Electric vehicle communication interface

Abstract

A method of communicating with an electric vehicle wherein the method includes a step of installing a communication device in the electric vehicle. The method also includes establishing a connection from the vehicle to a network. The methodology also includes controlling and monitoring a battery in the electric vehicle.

1 . A method of communicating with an electric vehicle, said method including the steps of:
 installing a communication device in the electric vehicle;   establishing a connection from the vehicle to a network;   communicating with a user interface via said network; and   controlling and monitoring a battery in the electric vehicle.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said communication device is a chip using an 802.11, cellular, powerline communication, or other standard or custom protocol. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said user interface includes a mobile device, desktop device, email device, instant messaging device, cell phones, telephones, text messaging device or other electric/wireless device. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes determining the battery state of charge. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the vehicle notifying a user that the battery is fully charged. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the vehicle notifying a user if charging problems occurred. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring further includes the step of a user initiating heating or cooling of the vehicle or the battery to prepare for driving of the vehicle. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes a user powering on or off a charging of the battery. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes a user discharging the battery into an electricity grid. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the step of communicating from a user or the vehicle that a battery problem has occurred by thermal runaway, sensed smoke, or other failure mechanisms and devices. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the step of controlling a timing for charging or discharging of the battery of the vehicle by a third party. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said step of controlling the timing allows for charging during low power consumption periods, stopping charging during high power consumption periods and providing for a user override of charging commands from said third party. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further including the step of prompting a user of the vehicle to choose a predetermined charging option when the vehicle is turned off. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein said step of prompting includes predetermined charging options of a full charge, a constant current charge up to a predetermined voltage, and a storage or 30 to 50% charge. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further including the step of creating a database on a remote server of user data regarding charge cycles, miles driven per charge and other predetermined parameters. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further including the step of broadcasting messages to a user via said remote server. 
   
   
       17 . A method of controlling a battery within an electrical vehicle by a user of the vehicle, said method of including the steps of:
 installing a communication chip in the vehicle;   providing a connection between the vehicle and a network on a user interface device;   providing a connection between said network and a second network; and   providing data storage and data analysis for the vehicle via said second network.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said second network includes the vehicle manufacturer's server or a utility company server. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said connections are wireless or hardwired. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein said connections provide for communication between the vehicle and a user of the vehicle and vice versa. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of querying a battery for its state of charge in the electric vehicle. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of notifying the user when the battery is fully charged. 
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of notifying said user if a problem occurred during charging of the battery. 
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of requesting the vehicle to initiate a heating or cooling of the vehicle or battery to prepare for driving of the vehicle. 
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of powering on or off a charging of the battery at predetermined times and for predetermined lengths. 
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of discharging the battery into an electric grid via a vehicle to grid application. 
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of notifying said user that the battery has had a problem. 
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of notifying said user the battery has self discharged below a predetermined storage level. 
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein said predetermined storage level is approximately three volts. 
   
   
       30 . An apparatus for connecting an electric vehicle, having a battery pack for solely propelling the electrical vehicle, with a user of the vehicle, the manufacturer of the vehicle or an utility company, said apparatus including:
 a communication chip located in the vehicle;   a first network in communication with said chip;   a second network in communication with said first network;   a data storage and data analysis device in communication with said second network; and   a user interface device in communication with said chip, said first network or said second network.   
   
   
       31 . The apparatus of  claim 30  wherein said data storage and data analysis device will monitor and adjust predetermined settings and parameters of the battery pack.