Multi-vehicle communications and control system

Abstract

A system for vehicle fleet management comprising: a base management system configured to enable one or more fleet vehicles to receive a vehicle service, the base management system comprising a database, a communications module and an analysis module, the communications module in communication with the one or more fleet vehicles, the analysis module and the database; one or more fleet vehicles, each fleet vehicle comprising a vehicle database and each configured to receive a charging service and to communicate a vehicle charging state to the communication module, wherein at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operates in a deficient charging state; at least one fleet service site configured to communicate a charging price to the communications module and provide the charging service at the charging price; wherein the analysis module receives the charging price and determines if the at least one fleet service site is selected to provide the charging service to the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state; wherein the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state is provided a charging service by the at least one fleet service site if the analysis module selects the at least one fleet service site.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle fleet management system comprising:
 a base management system configured to enable one or more fleet vehicles to receive a vehicle service, the base management system comprising a database, a communications module and an analysis module, the communications module in communication with the one or more fleet vehicles, the analysis module and the database;   one or more fleet vehicles, each fleet vehicle comprising a vehicle database and each configured to receive a charging service and to communicate a vehicle charging state to the communication module, wherein at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operates in a deficient charging state;   at least one fleet service site configured to communicate a charging price to the communications module and provide the charging service at the charging price;   wherein the analysis module receives the charging price and determines if the at least one fleet service site is selected to provide the charging service to the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state;   wherein the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state is provided a charging service by the at least one fleet service site if the analysis module selects the at least one fleet service site.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fleet service site is a plurality of fleet service sites. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the database comprises charging price data, charging configuration data, and charging rate data of the plurality of fleet service sites. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the plurality of fleet service sites comprise an embedded roadway charging system, an overhead roadway charging system and a stationary charging system. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fleet vehicles are configured to broadcast a charging state to the communications module. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the communications module is configured to identify at least two service sites for the charging service to the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more fleet vehicles are configured to receive the charging service by way of induction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fleet vehicles are further configured to communicate vehicle charging configuration data to the communications module. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fleet vehicles are further configured with a charging panel configured to receive a charging service from the at least one fleet service site. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the charging panel is configured to operate in a plurality of states comprising a retracted state and a deployed state. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the charging service is performed while the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state is in motion. 
     
     
         12 . A method of fleet vehicle management comprising:
 providing a base management system configured to enable one or more fleet vehicles to receive a vehicle service, the base management system comprising a database, a communications module and an analysis module, the communications module in communication with the one or more fleet vehicles, the analysis module and the database;   providing one or more fleet vehicles, each fleet vehicle comprising a vehicle database and each configured to receive a charging service and to communicate a vehicle charging state to the communication module, wherein at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operates in a deficient charging state;   receiving, by a microprocessor in communication with the communications module, a request for a charging service by the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state;   selecting, by the microprocessor in communication with the analysis module, at least one fleet service site to provide the charging service to the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state;   wherein the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state is provided a charging service by the at least one fleet service site.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one fleet service site is further configured to communicate a charging price to the communications module and provide the charging service at the charging price. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the analysis module receives the charging price and determines if the at least one fleet service site is selected to provide the charging service to the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one fleet service site is a plurality of fleet service sites. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the database comprises charging price data, charging configuration data, and charging rate data of the plurality of fleet service sites. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of fleet service sites comprise an embedded roadway charging system, an overhead roadway charging system and a stationary charging system. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the communications module is configured to identify at least two service sites for the charging service to the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the one or more fleet vehicles are configured to receive the charging service by way of induction. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the charging service is performed while the at least one of the one or more fleet vehicles operating in a deficient charging state is in motion.