Electric vehicle charging interface

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10696174-B2
Application number	US-201815890534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 7, 2018
Priority date	Nov 13, 2012
Publication date	Jun 30, 2020
Grant date	Jun 30, 2020

Abstract

Systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. An electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A charging interface of an electric vehicle, comprising:
at least one charge-receiving electrode configured to engage with a charging electrode of a charging unit when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging; and
a contact surface of the at least one charge-receiving electrode including one or more structural filing features configured to rub against and remove a portion of the charging electrode, to recondition the charging electrode, when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging.

2. The charging interface of claim 1 , wherein the one or more structural filing features includes a plurality of grooves.

3. The charging interface of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of grooves include multiple grooves arranged parallel to each other.

4. The charging interface of claim 3 , wherein the multiple groves are aligned at an angle with respect to a direction of travel of the electric vehicle.

5. The charging interface of claim 4 , wherein the multiple groves are aligned at an angle between 20 and 60 degrees with respect to the direction of travel.

6. The charging interface of claim 1 , wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode includes at least two charge-receiving electrodes.

7. The charging interface of claim 1 , wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode is positioned on a roof of the electric vehicle.

8. The charging interface of claim 1 , wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode is positioned on a side of the electric vehicle.

9. An electric vehicle, comprising:
an energy storage system;
at least one charge-receiving electrode configured to engage with a charging electrode of a charging unit when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging; and
the at least one charge-receiving electrode including a contact surface including one or more structural filing features, wherein the contact surface is configured to rub against and remove a portion of the charging electrode, to recondition the charging electrode, when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging.

10. The electric vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the one or more structural filing features include a plurality of grooves.

11. The electric vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of grooves are arranged parallel to each other.

12. The electric vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the at least one charge-receiving electrode is positioned on a side of the electric vehicle or on a roof of the electric vehicle.

13. The electric vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the electric vehicle is an all-battery electric vehicle or a hybrid electric vehicle.

14. A method for charging an electric vehicle, comprising:
positioning the electric vehicle proximate a charging unit for charging, wherein the electric vehicle includes at least one charge-receiving electrode and the charging unit includes at least one charging electrode;
reconditioning the at least one charging electrode by dragging the at least one charging electrode across one or more structural filing features on the at least one charge-receiving electrode to remove a portion of the at least one charging electrode;
establishing electrical contact between the at least one charging electrode and the at least one charge-receiving electrode after the reconditioning; and
charging the electric vehicle by directing electric current from the charging unit to the electric vehicle.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the reconditioning includes removing the portion of the at least one charging electrode by dragging the at least one charging electrode across one or more filing features on the contact surface when the electric vehicle connects with the charging unit for charging.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the one or more filing features are a plurality of grooves on the contact surface.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein establishing electrical contact includes making electrical connection between the at least one charge-receiving electrode on a side of the electric vehicle and the at least one charging electrode of the charging unit.

18. The method of claim 14 , wherein establishing electrical contact includes making electrical connection between the at least one charge-receiving electrode on a roof of the electric vehicle and the at least one charging electrode of the charging unit.

Assignees

• Proterra Inc

Inventors

• Mcgrath Seamus
• Sarkar Reuben
• Shah Keyur

Classifications

• Y02T10/70

  Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries · CPC title

• Y02T10/7072

  Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors · CPC title

• B60L53/11

  DC charging controlled by the charging station, e.g. mode 4 · CPC title

• Y02T90/167

  Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for supporting the interoperability of electric or hybrid vehicles, i.e. smartgrids as interface for battery charging of electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV] · CPC title

• Y02T10/64

  Electric machine technologies in electromobility · CPC title