Electric vehicle charging station with solar component

Abstract

The invention includes a Microprocessor Control Center for controlling an Electric Vehicle Charging Station, and methods thereof, which include a load center for aggregating a charging load from a renewable energy source, an electrical energy source, and electricity taken directly from the transmission grid when the storage depleted. The objective of the system is to maximize the use of the renewable source, and to use an energy storage system which prevents local brown-outs which can occur when large amounts of electricity is quickly removed from the grid. The energy storage system is recharged from the grid off-peak when rates and house-hold usage are lowest. In a preferred embodiment, the renewable source is solar power, in other embodiments the renewable source is wind, tidal and biomass. The solar panels are typically located on canopy roofs at petroleum retail fueling sites.

What is disclosed/claimed is: 
     
         1 . A EVCS for charging batteries in electric vehicles, comprising:
 a. a load center for aggregating the charging load to the EV;   b. at least one solar panel, connected to said load center through a first DC-DC converter, for generating renewable energy and delivering renewable energy to said load center;   c. a DC-AC invertor connecting said load center to the transmission grid;   d. an energy storage system connected to said load center through a second DC-DC convertor for receiving and storing electrical energy from said transmission grid where the electrical energy is stored and released on demand;   e. a charging meter, connected to said load center, for receiving said aggregated charging load and managing the charging task;   f. at least one charging connector, connected to said charging meter and further individually connected to EVs, for transferring individual charge load taken from said aggregated charging load to said EVs;   g. a MPCC connected to said first DC-DC convertor, to said load center, and to said charging meter, configured to: determine said aggregated charging load from said charging meter, to determine solar production from said first DC-DC convertor, and to prioritize said aggregated charging load by energy source in the order of solar sourced, storage sourced, and direct grid.   
     
     
         2 . An EVCS as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a measuring meter connected between said transmission grid and said load center to track and record the amount of energy flow between the two.   
     
     
         3 . An EVCS as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a billing center, connected to said charging meter, for receiving charging information including time and date of charging and amount of electrical power dispensed.   
     
     
         4 . An EVCS as recited in  claim 1 , wherein:
 said solar panel is mounted on top canopies at petroleum fueling sites.   
     
     
         5 . A method for charging an EV with an EVCS where the aggregated charging load includes a renewable energy component, a storage energy component, and an energy component taken directly from the transmission grid when stored energy is depleted, where the EVCS includes a load center for aggregating the charging load, comprising the steps of:
 a. connecting a renewable energy generating system to said load center through a DC-DC convertor for conditioning the renewable energy flowing to said load center;   b. connecting said load center to the transmission grid through an AC-DC invertor for inverting and conditioning the flow of current between the two;   c. connecting said load center to an electrical energy storage system, where said load center receives electrical energy from said transmission grid at predetermined times, and transfers the electrical energy to said energy storage system where it is stored and released on demand;   d. connecting said load center to a charging meter for receiving said aggregated load, where said charging meter is further connected to individual charging connecters which are further connected to individual EVs receiving a charge;   e. connecting a MPCC to said load center, to said first DC-DC converter, and to said charging meter, where said MPCC is configured to: receive from said charging meter information on the amount of current needed to satisfy current needs of individual connectors and to adjust aggregated charging load as needed, to prioritize the aggregated charging load according to energy source in the order of renewable, stored, and direct grid, whereby said MPCC defaults when stored current is deleted causing said load center to pull total aggregated load directly from said grid.   
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said MPCC is further configured to cause said load center to transfer electrical energy from said transmission grid to said energy storage system at predetermined times. 
     
     
         7 . A MPCC for controlling an EVCS which includes a load center for aggregating a charging load, an array of solar panels connected to said load center through a first DC-DC convertor, a DC-AC invertor connecting said load center to the transmission grid, an energy storage system connected to said load center through a second DC-DC converter for receiving electrical energy from said transmission grid for storage and releasing the electrical energy on demand, and a charging meter connected to said load center for receiving said aggregated charging load and delivering individual charge loads to EVs, where said MPCC is connected to said load center, to said first DC-DC convertor, and to said charging meter, and configured to: to receive charging information from said charging meter including optimal individual charging loads being delivered to said EVs, to determine aggregated charging load needed, and to prioritize said charging load by electrical energy source in the order of solar, stored, and grid by determining from said first DC-DC converter solar production and augmenting any solar production with stored energy. 
     
     
         8 . A MPCC as recited in  claim 7  further configured to default when stored electrical energy is depleted, whereby said MPCC instructs said load center to pull entire said aggregated load from said transmission grid.