CN114179648A

CN114179648A - Charging system for electric vehicle and method of managing charging of electric vehicle

Info

Publication number: CN114179648A
Application number: CN202111071598.XA
Authority: CN
Inventors: E·比尔堡·穆鲁瓦加; E·I·罗德古斯·乌维纳斯
Original assignee: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Current assignee: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
Priority date: 2020-09-15
Filing date: 2021-09-14
Publication date: 2022-03-15
Anticipated expiration: 2041-09-14
Also published as: JP3236428U; DE202021002978U1; CN114179648B; KR20220000674U

Abstract

A charging system for an electric vehicle and a method of managing charging of an electric vehicle. The present invention relates to a charging system for charging a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle, the charging system comprising: a charging device configurable between a first configuration for connection to a receiver of an electric vehicle to enable a power source of the electric vehicle to be recharged with DC power and a second configuration for connection to a receiver of the electric vehicle to enable the power source of the vehicle to be recharged with AC power; a data capture device for capturing data of an electric vehicle which it needs to be recharged; and a memory device and a processor coupled to the memory device, the processor being arranged to: collecting data from a data capture device; identifying, based on the collected data, a type of power required for recharging a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle, wherein the rechargeable power source is capable of being recharged using one or a combination of DC power and AC power; and generating a signal corresponding to the identified power type to cause the charging device to be configured in the first configuration or the second configuration; and initiating or scheduling initiation of charging of the rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle. The invention also extends to a computer-implemented method for managing recharging of an electric vehicle. The invention also extends to a charging station, a charging device and a connector.

Description

Charging system for electric vehicle and method of managing charging of electric vehicle

Technical Field

The present invention is in the field of charging systems for electric vehicles. The invention also extends to a method of managing charging of an electric vehicle.

Background

The debye electric and water service bureau is installing an Electric Vehicle (EV) quick charging station 10 as shown in fig. 1 with a type 2 charging device 12 as shown in fig. 2, a CCS2 type charging device 14 as shown in fig. 3, a CHAdeMO type charging device 16. It can be seen that the current chargers known to the applicant, installed in most countries, consist of

various charging devices

12, 14, 16 adapted to the fast charging station 10 to meet the customers' demands for their EVs. It should be appreciated that having multiple charging device/charger heads unnecessarily increases the number of wires required to be installed in a single charging station, which unexpectedly results in higher costs for building and maintaining such prior art charging stations.

A problem associated with rapid charging stations is that they require the customer to know in advance which charging device is appropriate to charge their EV, which can frustrate the customer who must consider the

charging devices

12, 14, 16 until the customer selects the correct device appropriate for the EV.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a suitable charging device and charging station, which can at least ameliorate this problem.

Disclosure of Invention

A charging system for charging a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle, the charging system comprising:

a charging device configurable between a first configuration for connection to a receiver of an electric vehicle to enable a power source of the electric vehicle to be recharged with DC power and a second configuration for connection to the receiver of the electric vehicle to enable the power source of the electric vehicle to be recharged with AC power;

a data capture device for capturing data of at least one of a driver associated with the electric vehicle that needs to be recharged and the electric vehicle that needs to be recharged; and

a memory device and a processor coupled to the memory device, the processor arranged to:

collecting data from a data capture device;

identifying, based on the collected data, a type of power required to recharge a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle, wherein the rechargeable power source is capable of being recharged with one or a combination of DC power and AC power; and

generating a signal corresponding to the identified power type to cause the charging device to be configured in the first configuration or a second configuration; and

initiating charging of a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle.

In an embodiment, the charging system may comprise a charging station to which the charging device is adapted.

In an embodiment, the charging device may include a first set of electrical contacts and a second set of electrical contacts, and the body may be configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration in which the first and second sets of electrical contacts are selectively displaceable between an extended position and a retracted position relative to each other.

In an embodiment, the charging system may comprise an actuator arrangement comprising an actuator arranged to configure the charging device between the first configuration and the second configuration when actuated, typically by the generated signal.

In another embodiment, the charging device may include a body to which a connector or a second connector may be selectively connected, the connector including an arrangement of a first set of electrical contacts, the second connector including an arrangement of a second set of electrical contacts.

Thus, the actuator may be arranged to automatically select the first connector or the second connector required for charging the vehicle and connect the selected connector to the body of the charging apparatus.

In embodiments, the data capture device may be adapted to a charging station, and the data capture device may comprise any one or combination of an image capture device arranged to capture an image of said electric vehicle, an RFID tag reader, a keypad (key-pad), or the like.

In an embodiment, the charging station may include a display screen.

In an embodiment, the charging station may comprise a sensor to sense when said charging device has been received in a receiver of an electric vehicle.

In an embodiment, prior to charging an electric vehicle, the processor may be configured to determine whether a driver associated with an electric vehicle requiring charging with electrical power has an existing account associated with the charging system; if not, the processor may be configured to prompt the driver, for example, by displaying a message on the display screen to create an account; and if the driver has an account, the processor may be arranged to transmit electrical power suitable for recharging the rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle.

However, if the driver is not registered or cannot be registered, charging of the electric vehicle may occur and the processor may be configured to collect information of the driver and/or electric vehicle via the data capture device for billing purposes.

In an embodiment, the processor may be arranged to measure the amount of electrical power delivered to the power supply of the electric vehicle during charging of the power supply of the electric vehicle.

In an embodiment, the processor may be configured to apply a tariff to the electrical power delivered to the rechargeable power source of the device and to bill an account of a driver associated with the vehicle accordingly.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer-implemented method of managing recharging of a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle, the computer-implemented method comprising:

collecting data from a data capture device, the data relating to a driver associated with an electric vehicle and/or the electric vehicle requiring its rechargeable power source to be recharged;

identifying, based on the collected data, a type of power required for recharging a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle, wherein the rechargeable power source is rechargeable with one of DC power and AC power;

generating a signal corresponding to the identified power type to cause a charging device for delivering electrical power to a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle to be configured in a configuration suitable for recharging the electric vehicle, the configuration being a first configuration for delivering AC power or a second configuration for delivering DC power; and

charging of a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle is initiated.

In an embodiment, the step of generating a signal may comprise: actuating an actuator associated with the charging device to configure the charging device between a first configuration and a second configuration.

In an embodiment, the step of generating a signal may comprise: causing the actuator to select a connector comprising an arrangement of electrical contacts suitable for recharging the device, and connecting the connector to the body of the charging device.

In embodiments, the data capture device may include any one or a combination of the following: an image capture device arranged to capture images of the electric vehicle, an RFID card/tag reader for reading driver information on the tag, a keypad for manually receiving information of the driver and/or the electric vehicle, etc., and the method may include collecting the captured data; and determining salient features of the electric vehicle, including a registration number of the electric vehicle.

In an embodiment, prior to charging the electric vehicle, the method may include: determining whether a driver associated with an electric vehicle requiring charging with electric power has an existing account associated with the charging system; if not, the method may include prompting the driver, for example, by displaying a message associated with the charging device on a display screen to create an account; and if the driver has an account, the method may include the step of initiating the transfer of electrical power suitable for recharging a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle.

In an embodiment, during charging of the power source of the electric vehicle, the method may comprise the step of measuring an amount of electric power transferred to the power source of the electric vehicle.

In an embodiment, the method may further comprise the step of applying a tariff to the electrical power of the rechargeable power source transferred to the device and billing an account of a driver associated with the vehicle accordingly.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer readable device containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, are arranged to perform the method of the second aspect of the invention.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging station for charging an electric vehicle, the charging station comprising:

a housing;

a charging device adapted to the housing, the charging device including a body and being configurable between a first configuration in which the configuration of the first set of electrical contacts extends from the body and a second configuration in which the configuration of the second set of electrical contacts extends from the body.

In an embodiment, the charging station may comprise an actuator arrangement housed in the housing, the actuator arrangement comprising an actuator arranged to cause the body to be configured in the first configuration or the second configuration when actuated.

In an embodiment, the first and second sets of electrical contacts may be selectively displaceable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the charging apparatus is configured in the first configuration, the configuration of the first electrical contact of the first set may be displaced to the extended position and the second electrical contact of the second set may be displaced to the retracted position, and in the second configuration, the configuration of the second electrical contact of the second set may be displaced to the extended position and the configuration of the first electrical contact of the first set may be displaced to the retracted position.

In another embodiment, the configuring of the charging device between the first configuration and the second configuration may comprise selectively fitting a first connector or a second connector into the body for allowing the charging device to be configurable between a first configuration with the first connector connected to the body and a second configuration with the second connector connected to the body, wherein when the first connector is connected to the body, the device comprises a configuration of a first set of first electrical contacts, and wherein when the second connector is connected to the body, the device comprises a configuration of a second set of second electrical contacts.

Thus, the body of the charging device may comprise a receiving formation for receiving a first or second connector which may be removably mounted on the body.

In an embodiment, the first electrical contact of the first set may be a CCS2 type electrical contact or a prong for being received in a CCS type receiver.

In an embodiment, the second electrical contact of the second set may be a type 2 electrical contact or a prong (prong) for being received in a type 2 receiver.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a charging apparatus for facilitating charging of an electric vehicle, the charging apparatus comprising a body and being configurable between a first configuration in which an arrangement of a first set of electrical contacts extends from the body and a second configuration in which an arrangement of a second set of electrical contacts extends from the body.

In an embodiment, the first set of electrical contacts and the second set of electrical contacts are configured to be selectively displaceable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the charging apparatus is configured in the first configuration, the configuration of the first electrical contacts of the first set may be displaced to the extended position and the configuration of the second electrical contacts of the second set may be displaced to the retracted position, and in the second configuration, the second electrical contacts of the second set may be displaced to the extended position and the configuration of the first electrical contacts of the first set may be displaced to the retracted position.

In another embodiment, when the device is configured in a first configuration, a first electrical contact of the first set may be displaced to an extended position and a second set of electrical contacts may be displaced to a retracted position, and in the second configuration, a second electrical contact of the second set may be displaced to the extended position and some of the electrical contacts of the first electrical contact of the first set may be displaced to the extended position for operation in unison with the second electrical contact of the second set, while the remaining electrical contacts of the first electrical contact of the first set may be displaced to the retracted position.

In another embodiment, the body may comprise a receiving formation for receiving a first connector or a second connector, which may be removably mounted on the body, for allowing the charging device to be configurable between a first configuration with the first connector connected to the body and a second configuration with the second connector connected to the body.

In an embodiment, the first connector may comprise an arrangement of first electrical contacts of the first set.

In an embodiment, the second connector may comprise an arrangement of second electrical contacts of the second set.

In an embodiment, the second electrical contact of the second set may be a type 2 electrical contact or a prong for being received in a type 2 receiver.

In an embodiment, when the device is configured in the first configuration, one of the first, second and third sets of electrical contacts may be displaced to the extended position while the other sets are displaced to the retracted position, and in the second configuration, one of the other sets of electrical contacts of the first, second and third sets or a combination of electrical contacts of some of the first, second and third sets of electrical contacts may be displaced to the extended position while the other sets of electrical contacts or remaining electrical contacts of the first, second and third sets of electrical contacts may be displaced to the retracted position.

In an embodiment, the charging device may be connected to a cable connected or connectable to a power source.

In an embodiment, the electrical cable may include suitable electrical wires for type 2 electrical contacts, CCS type electrical contacts.

In an embodiment, the charging device may comprise a locking arrangement configured to lock the charging device in position when the electrical contacts are in position.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention there is provided a charging apparatus for facilitating charging of an electric vehicle, the charging apparatus comprising a body defining a mounting formation for mounting to a corresponding mounting formation on a connector or for facilitating mounting of the connector to the body, wherein the connector comprises suitable electrical contacts.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention there is provided a connector for connection to the body of a charging apparatus, the connector being configured to connect the charging apparatus to a port of an electric vehicle to facilitate charging of the electric vehicle, the connector comprising a mounting formation for mounting to a corresponding mounting formation on the body of the charging apparatus or for facilitating mounting of the connector to the body of the charging apparatus, wherein the connector comprises suitable electrical contacts.

Drawings

The objects and features of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art electric vehicle charging station, wherein the charging station includes a plurality of charging devices, including type 2, CCS2 and CHAdemo-type charging devices, each dedicated to an electric vehicle having a receiver/port corresponding to the charging device;

fig. 2 shows the arrangement of electrical contacts provided on a charging device of the type 2 shown in fig. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates an arrangement of electrical contacts provided on the CCS2 charging apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate a universal charging device according to an embodiment of the present invention, shown in a retracted configuration as shown in FIG. 4A and an extended configuration as shown in FIG. 4B;

fig. 5A and 5B show front views of the charging device shown in fig. 4A and 4B in a retracted configuration and an extended configuration;

6A, 6B and 6C illustrate another embodiment of a charging device in accordance with the present invention, wherein the charging device is formed from a suitable connector that fits into the charging device;

7A, 7B and 7C illustrate another embodiment of a charging device in accordance with the present invention, wherein the charging device is formed from a suitable connector that fits into the charging device;

FIG. 8 illustrates an electric vehicle charging station incorporating a charging apparatus in accordance with the present invention, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 shows a cooling system fitted in the charging station of fig. 8;

FIG. 10 shows a network according to an embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 depicts a high level flow chart of steps performed by a computer implemented method in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed Description

While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may be described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary embodiments, these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative embodiments, either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof. Unless expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are intended to be within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various alternative embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions-such alternative structures, configurations, methods, devices and components, alternatives as to form, fit and function, and so on may be described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or exhaustive list of available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed.

Those skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects, concepts or features into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present inventions even if such embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Still further, exemplary or representative values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present disclosure; however, such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense, and it is intended that critical values or ranges only be expressly stated. Moreover, while various aspects, features and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming part of an invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather there may be inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein without being expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention.

As shown in fig. 4A and 4B of the drawings, there is provided a universal charging device 20 according to the present invention. The charging device 20 is arranged to transmit suitable electrical power to the rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle through a suitable connector. The charging device 20 includes: a body 22 containing a first set of electrical contacts 24, the first set of electrical contacts 24 including a ground/Ground (GND) pin, a control lead (CP), a proximity lead (PP), and three phase conductors L1, L2, L3 and a neutral conductor (N), as shown in fig. 5A and 5B. The body 22 also includes a second set of electrical contacts 26 that include positive and negative pins, as shown in fig. 5A and 5B.

The first set of electrical contacts 24 is configured to define type 2 (i.e., AC) electrical contacts/prongs/pins that are shaped and configured to be received in a suitable receiver/port of an electric vehicle that is designed to receive type 2 electrical contacts. The second set of electrical contacts 26 includes positive and negative prongs arranged to operate in unison with some of the electrical contacts of the first set of electrical contacts, particularly the ground, short and long pins, as shown, to form a CCS2 (i.e., DC) configuration of electrical contacts/prongs/pins that is shaped and configured to be received in a suitable receiver of an electric vehicle designed to receive CCS2 electrical contacts.

As shown in fig. 4A, 4B, 5A, and 5B, the charging device 20 may be configured between first and second configurations in which the first and second sets of

electrical contacts

24, 26 are automatically selectively displaceable relative to each other between extended and retracted positions. Typically, the charging device 20 is arranged to be configured in a first configuration, as shown in fig. 4A and 5A, wherein all electrical contact members of the first set of electrical contacts 24 are displaced to an extended position to form a type 2 configuration, while the positive and negative pins (i.e., the second set of electrical contacts) 26 are moved to a retracted configuration. The charging device 20 is also arranged to be configured in a second configuration, as shown in fig. 4B and 5B, in which all of the second set of electrical contacts 26 (i.e., the positive and negative pins) are displaced to the extended position while some of the electrical contacts of the first set of electrical contacts 24, particularly the three-phase pins (i.e., L1, L2, L3) and the neutral pin, are displaced to the retracted configuration such that only the electrical contacts held in the extended position operate in unison and are configured in the form of CCS2 type pins.

In other embodiments, it is contemplated that the electrical contacts may also be configured in a type 1 or CCS 1 configuration (not shown), which are known and common in the art of the present invention.

In another embodiment, as shown in fig. 6B, the charging device 20 may include both the first set of electrical contacts 24 and the second set of electrical contacts 26. The charging device 20 is configured in a first configuration in which a first electrical contact 24 (i.e., a type 2 electrical contact) extends from the body 21 and a second set of electrical contacts 26 is retracted. The second set of electrical contacts 26 is arranged to receive a respective mounting configuration from the first connector, as will be described below.

As shown in fig. 6A, there is provided a first connector 28, the first connector 28 comprising a main body 30, a connecting member 32 extending from the main body 30, the connecting member 32 being arranged to be received in the second electrical contact 26 of the charging device 20, as shown in fig. 6B. The first connector 28 includes a third set of electrical contacts 31 in the form of CCS2 electrical contacts (i.e., including PP, CP and GND pins at a top portion thereof, and positive and negative pins at a bottom portion thereof). The first connector 28 is arranged to be connected to the charging device 20, as shown in fig. 6B, in order to configure the charging device 20 in a second configuration, as shown in fig. 6C.

In another embodiment, as shown in fig. 7B, the charging device 20 may include both the first set of electrical contacts 24 and the second set of electrical contacts 26. The charging device 20 is configured in a first configuration in which the first electrical contact member 24 (i.e., type 2 electrical contacts) extends from the body 21 and the second set of electrical contacts 26 is retracted. The second set of electrical contacts 26 is arranged to receive a respective mounting configuration from the second connector, as will be described below.

As shown in fig. 7A, there is provided a second connector 36, the second connector 36 comprising a main body 38, a second connecting member 40 extending from the main body 38, the second connecting member 40 being arranged to be received in the retracted/retracted second electrical contact 26 of the charging device 20, as shown in fig. 7B. The second connector includes a fourth set of electrical contacts 42 which are extensions of the second set of electrical contacts 26. The second connector 36 is arranged to connect to the charging device 20, as shown in fig. 7B, so as to configure the charging device in a second configuration, as shown in fig. 7C, in which the first set of electrical contacts 24 and the fourth set of electrical contacts 42 (i.e., the extended second set of electrical contacts 26) extend from the main body 21. The second connector 36 includes an arcuate seat 44 positioned above the fourth set of electrical contacts 42, the seat 44 being disposed adjacent a lower end of a frame 44, the frame 44 surrounding the first set of electrical contacts 24.

In one embodiment, the charging device 20 as shown in fig. 6B and 7B is connected to a charging station 50, and both the first and

second connectors

28,36 are retained in the housing 50 for selective connection to the charging device 20 by an actuator arrangement, not shown, as will be described below.

In another embodiment, the charging device 20 as shown in fig. 4A and 4B may be connected to a charging station 50, and charging stations 50 contemplated herein will optionally not house the

connectors

28,36, as described above.

The charging device 20 is correspondingly connected via a cable 52 to a charging station 50 as shown in fig. 8 and rests (or sits) on the stand 28 when not in use. The charging station 50 includes a housing 54 that is a rectangular parallelepiped structure that houses a number of components as shown in fig. 8. The housing 54 includes a power rack 56 and a charger rack 58, the power rack 56 containing components (not shown) connected to a main power source such as a power grid, the charger rack 58 housing the charging device 20 and the various components shown in fig. 10.

As shown in fig. 9, the charging station 50 includes a display screen 60 that is fitted to the housing 54 on the charger stand 58, the display screen 60 being positioned above the charging device 20. The charging station 50 also includes a data capture device 62, which may be any one or combination of the following:

an image capture device 64 positioned above the display screen 60 and positioned towards the upper edge of the housing 54, as shown in fig. 8 and 9; typically, the image capture device 64 may be a camera arranged to acquire images of the electric vehicle 80 while the vehicle is driving towards the charging station 50 and parked relative to the charging station 50 when the vehicle is parked;

(ii) an RFID tag/card reader; and/or

(iii) Any other data capture device.

The charging station 50 also includes a liquid cooling system 66, shown in fig. 9, that is fitted in the housing 54 and connected to the cable 52 for cooling and maintaining the temperature of the cable 52 at a desired or industrially acceptable temperature rating.

Turning now to our attention to fig. 10, a network 100 according to the present invention is provided incorporating a charging station 50 and a charging system 104 according to the present invention. The charging system 104 includes at least one processor (not shown) and at least one memory device (not shown) containing instructions arranged to be executed by the at least one processor to cause the processor to perform the operations contemplated herein. It should be understood that operations performed by the charging system 104, as referenced herein, may equally be operations performed by a processor, or vice versa.

The network 100 includes a user device 106 associated with a driver associated with the electric vehicle 80 that needs to be charged. The charging system 104, the charging station 50, the user devices 106 communicate with each other via a communication network 108.

Also shown in fig. 10 are the components/modules of the charging station 50, including: a data capture device 64 arranged to manage and control the control unit 68 of all the modules of the charging station 50, as will be described below; a protection module 70 for protecting components in the charging station from electrical surges, a metering module 72, an AC-DC converter 74, an actuator 75 including a plug/connector selector 76 and a cable enabler 78. The charging station 50 is connected to a power source, typically an electrical grid, by a cable 79.

In use, as the electric vehicle 80 approaches the charging station 50, a data capture device, such as the camera 64, will take an image or series of images of the vehicle 80 and send the image or images to the control module 68. The control module 68 will send the image to the charging system 104 for processing. The charging system 104 will accordingly collect an image or images of the vehicle and use the visual recognition trained AI algorithm to detect the vehicle registration number of the vehicle as would be provided on a registration number plate on the electric vehicle 80. In another embodiment, the driver may place the RFID tag on an RFID tag reader on the charging station 80. The driver's RFID tag may include vehicle information including a registration number and a vehicle type of the vehicle. When the driver places the card (which includes an RFID tag) near the charging station containing the reader, the vehicle's information is shared with the system 104.

Based at least on the vehicle's registration number, the charging system 104 will be able to determine the model number of the vehicle 80 at the charging station 50 and, accordingly, the type of charging port in the vehicle 80. The charging system 104 will also be able to access the user account database to determine whether the driver associated with the vehicle 80 is registered to use the charging station 50. If not, the charging system 104 can send a message to the charging station 50 for display on the display 60 to request the driver to register for use of the charging station 50. The driver can register to use the charging station 104 by accessing the charging system 104 and providing the driver's details and billing information accordingly. Once registered, or if the driver is registered, the charging system 104 can then send a message to the user device 106 linked to the user account to inform the driver that the vehicle is at a charging station and provide instructions to the driver to remove the charging device 20 from the charging station 50 and insert it into a charging port (not shown) of the electric vehicle 80. In another embodiment, the driver may not be required to check in, but may be allowed to charge the electric vehicle and bill at a later stage, or after charging of the electric vehicle is complete. Thus, the charging station 50 may include a payment point where the driver may present a bank card to pay for charging services.

Before instructing the driver to place the charging device 20 in a charging port (not shown) of the vehicle 80, the charging system 104 may send a message or signal to the charging station 50 corresponding to the model of the vehicle 80 and the type of charging port used by the vehicle 80. The control unit 68 will accordingly generate signals to actuate the actuators 75 to cause the actuators to configure the charging device 20 in a configuration corresponding to the charging ports of the vehicle 80. In use, when the charging device 20 is a universal automatic charging device 20 as shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the actuator will actuate the charging device 20 to be configured in either a first configuration as shown in fig. 4A or a second configuration as shown in fig. 4B. Similarly, when the charging device 20 is as shown in fig. 6B and 7B, the generated signal may cause the actuator (typically a robotic arm) to select the appropriate first connector 28 or second connector 36 for connecting to the charging device 20 as shown in fig. 6B and 7B to configure the charging device in the second configuration as shown in fig. 6C or 7C, or the generated signal may cause the actuator to select neither the first connector 28 nor the second connector 36, but to cause the charging device 20 to be configured as shown in the first configuration of fig. 6B or 7B.

Once the

appropriate connector

28 or 36 is selected and fitted to the charging device as shown in fig. 6A, 6B, 6C, 7A, 7B, and 7C, or when the universal charging device 20 is configured in the first or second configuration as shown in fig. 4A and 4B, the actuator 75 will then use the cable enable module 78 to enable the charging device 20 to release the charging device 20 from the charging station 50, depending on whether the first or second set of electrical contacts are required for the charging vehicle 80. Once released, a message indicating its release will be indicated on the display screen 60 or a message will be sent to the user device 106. The user/driver would then remove the charging device 20 with the appropriate electrical contacts extending therefrom and insert the charging device 20 into the charging port of the vehicle 80.

The electric vehicle comprises a locking pin arranged to be received in the opening 23 of the charging device 20, locking the charging device 20 to the charging port of the electric vehicle once the electrical contact (contact) of the charging device 20 has been received in the port of the electric vehicle.

Once the charging device 20 is locked in place, the control unit 68 would then proceed to transfer electrical power from the main power supply (i.e., the grid) to the electric vehicle 80. When a rechargeable power source (not shown) of the electric vehicle 80 operates on the AC power source, power from the main power source will be transmitted to the electric vehicle 80. However, when the rechargeable power source (not shown) of the electric vehicle 80 is operating on DC power, the power from the main power source will be converted by the AC-DC converter module 74 (typically an inverter) and the power will be transmitted to the charging device 20 via the cable 52.

The metering module 72 measures the amount of electrical power delivered to a rechargeable power source (not shown) of the electric vehicle 80. During charging, the user/driver may wish to stop charging of the vehicle before the rechargeable power source (not shown) of the electric vehicle 80 is fully charged, and the driver may send a command to the charging station 50 to discontinue charging via the user device 106 or an appropriate button (not shown) engaged on the display screen or on the charging station. Alternatively, charging of the rechargeable power source may continue until the rechargeable power source (not shown) of the electric vehicle 80 is fully charged. Once the electric vehicle stops obtaining power, information that the vehicle has stopped obtaining power is transmitted to the charging station 50 through the CP and PP pins.

The electric vehicle 80 will be activated to release the charging device 20 from its charging port (not shown) to allow the charging device 20 to be removed and replaced on the charging station 50. The metering module 72 then communicates the amount of energy transferred to the electric vehicle 80 to the charging system 104. The charging system 104 will impose a tariff on the amount of energy consumed by the electric vehicle and aggregate the fees to be charged to the driver. The fee may be communicated to the driver via the display screen 60 or the user device 106. The fee is then billed to the user's account, typically through an account the user has with the financial institution. In an embodiment, the charging system 104 may employ a blockchain system (not shown) to bill the driver's account. In another embodiment, the bill amount may be paid by the driver on a suitable payspot device, as described above.

Attention is now directed to fig. 11 of the drawings, wherein a high level flow chart of a computer implemented method for managing recharging of an electric vehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, is shown and generally indicated by the reference numeral 200. It should be understood that the example method 200 may be implemented by systems and devices not described herein. However, by way of non-limiting example, reference will be made to the method 200 as being implemented by the charging system 104, as described above.

The method 200 comprises the steps of collecting data from a data capture device relating to an electric vehicle whose rechargeable power source is required to be recharged, 202; identifying, based on the collected data, a type of power required for recharging a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle, wherein the rechargeable power source is capable of being recharged using one of DC power and AC power, 204; generating a signal corresponding to the identified power type to cause a charging device for transferring electrical power to a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle to be configured in a configuration suitable for recharging the electric vehicle, the configuration being a first configuration for transferring AC power or a second configuration for transferring DC power, 206; and initiating charging of the rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle, 208.

It will be appreciated that charging system 100, charging station 50 and method 200 as contemplated herein provide a new and useful way of managing the recharging of electric vehicles. In addition, using a charging device 20 that can be automatically configured so as to have electrical contacts that correspond to the charging port of the electric vehicle will provide a careless experience for the driver at the electric vehicle charging station.

Claims

1. A charging system for charging a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle, the charging system comprising:

a charging device configurable between a first configuration for connection to a receiver of an electric vehicle to enable a power source of the electric vehicle to be recharged with DC power and a second configuration for connection to a receiver of the electric vehicle to enable the power source of the vehicle to be recharged with AC power;

a data capture device for capturing data of at least one of a driver associated with the electric vehicle and the electric vehicle that needs to be recharged; and

collecting data from a data capture device;

identifying, based on the collected data, a type of power required for recharging a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle, wherein the rechargeable power source is rechargeable with one or a combination of DC power and AC power; and

initiating or scheduling initiation of charging of a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle.

2. The charging system of claim 1, comprising a charging station to which the charging device is adapted.

3. The charging system of claim 2, wherein the charging device comprises a first set of electrical contacts, and a second set of electrical contacts, and the body is configurable between a first configuration and a second configuration, wherein the first and second sets of electrical contacts are selectively displaceable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position.

4. A charging system according to claim 3, comprising an actuator arrangement comprising an actuator arranged to configure the charging device between the first configuration and the second configuration when actuated generally by the generated signal.

5. A charging system according to claim 2, wherein the charging device comprises a body to which either the first connector or the second connector is selectively connected, the first connector comprising an arrangement of the first set of electrical contacts and the second connector comprising an arrangement of the second set of electrical contacts.

6. A charging system according to claim 5, comprising an actuator arrangement configured, when actuated, to select the first or second connector required for charging the vehicle and connect the selected connector to the charging device.

7. The charging system of claim 2, wherein the data capture device is adapted to a charging station that captures information of an electric vehicle.

8. The charging system of claim 7, wherein the processor is configured to collect information of the electric vehicle and determine salient features of an electric vehicle, including a type of charging port associated with the electric vehicle.

9. The charging system of claim 7, wherein during charging of the power source of the electric vehicle, the processor is arranged to measure an amount of electrical power delivered to a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle.

10. The charging system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to apply a tariff to the electrical power communicated to the rechargeable power source of the device and to bill an account of a driver associated with the electric vehicle or present billing details to the driver accordingly.

11. A computer-implemented method of managing recharging of a rechargeable power source of an electric vehicle, the computer-implemented method comprising:

collecting data from a data capture device, the data relating to an electric vehicle whose rechargeable power source needs to be recharged;

identifying, based on the collected data, a type of power required to recharge a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle, wherein the rechargeable power source is rechargeable with one of DC power and AC power;

generating a signal corresponding to the identified power type to configure a charging device for delivering electrical power to a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle in a configuration suitable for recharging the electric vehicle, the configuration being a first configuration for delivering AC power or a second configuration for delivering DC power; and

initiating charging of a rechargeable power source of the electric vehicle.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the step of generating the signal may comprise: actuating an actuator associated with the charging device to configure the charging device between a first configuration and a second configuration.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein during charging of the power source of the electric vehicle, the computer-implemented method includes the step of measuring an amount of electrical power delivered to the power source of the electric vehicle.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 13, comprising the steps of: applying a tariff to the electrical power of the rechargeable power source that is communicated to the device, and billing an account of a driver associated with the vehicle or presenting billing details to the driver.

15. A computer readable device containing instructions which, when executed by a processor, are arranged to perform the computer-implemented method of claim 11.

16. A charging station for charging an electric vehicle, the charging station comprising:

a housing;

a charging device fitted to the housing, the charging device comprising a body and being configurable between a first configuration in which the configuration of the first set of electrical contacts extends from the body and a second configuration in which the configuration of the second set of electrical contacts extends from the body.

17. The charging station of claim 16, comprising an actuator arrangement housed in the housing, the actuator arrangement comprising an actuator arranged to configure the body between the first configuration and the second configuration when the actuator is actuated.

18. The charging station of claim 17, wherein the first and second sets of first and second electrical contacts are selectively displaceable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the charging apparatus is configured in the first configuration, the configuration of the first set of first electrical contacts is displaced to the extended position while all or some of the second set of second electrical contacts are displaced to the retracted position, and in the second configuration, all or some of the second set of second electrical contacts are displaced to the extended position and all or some of the first set of first electrical contacts are displaced to the retracted position.

19. The charging station of claim 17, wherein the configuration of the charging device between the first configuration and the second configuration comprises selectively fitting a first connector or a second connector into a body of the charging device for allowing the charging device to be configurable between a first configuration with the first connector connected to the body and a second configuration with the second connector connected to the body, wherein the first connector may comprise a configuration of a first set of first electrical contacts corresponding to a DC connector and the second connector comprises a configuration of a second set of second electrical contacts corresponding to an AC connector.

20. A charging device for facilitating charging of an electric vehicle, the charging device comprising a body and being configurable between a first configuration in which a configuration of a first set of electrical contacts extends from the body and a second configuration in which a configuration of a second set of electrical contacts extends from the body.

21. The charging device of claim 20, wherein the first and second sets of first and second electrical contacts are selectively displaceable relative to each other between an extended position and a retracted position, wherein when the charging device is configured in the first configuration, the configuration of the first set of first electrical contacts is displaced to the extended position while all or some of the second set of second electrical contacts are displaced to the retracted position, and in the second configuration, all or some of the second set of second electrical contacts are displaced to the extended position and all or some of the first set of first electrical contacts are displaced to the retracted position.

22. The charging device of claim 20, wherein the configuration of the charging device between the first and second configurations comprises a first connector or a second connector selectively fitted to a body of the charging device for allowing the charging device to be configurable between a first configuration with the first connector connected to the body and a second configuration with the second connector connected to the body, wherein the first connector comprises a configuration of a first set of first electrical contacts corresponding to a DC connector and the second connector comprises a configuration of a second set of second electrical contacts corresponding to an AC connector.

23. A charging device according to claim 22, wherein the body comprises a receiving formation for receiving a first or second connector which is removably mountable on the body for allowing the charging device to be configurable between a first configuration with the first connector connected to the body and a second configuration with the second connector connected to the body.

24. The charging device of claim 23, wherein the first electrical contact of the first set comprises a CCS2 type electrical contact or a prong for being received in a CCS2 type receiver/port.

25. A charging device according to claim 24, wherein the second electrical contact of the second set comprises a type 2 electrical contact or a prong for being received in a type 2 receiver/port.

26. A charging apparatus for facilitating charging of an electric vehicle, the charging apparatus comprising a body defining a mounting formation for mounting to a corresponding mounting formation on a connector or for facilitating mounting of the connector to the body, wherein the connector comprises suitable electrical contacts.

27. A connector for connection to a body of a charging device, the connector being configured to connect the charging device to a port of an electric vehicle to facilitate charging of the electric vehicle, the connector comprising a mounting formation for mounting to a corresponding mounting formation on the body of the charging device or for facilitating mounting of the connector to the body of the charging device.