Charging systems for electric vehicles

Abstract

This disclosure provides systems and methods for charging a vehicle. A vehicle and charging station can be designed such that an electric or hybrid vehicle can operate in a fashion similar to a conventional vehicle by being opportunity charged throughout a known route.

1 - 37 . (canceled) 
     
     
         38 . A charging system for an electric vehicle, comprising:
 an energy buffer device comprising a battery and/or a capacitor;   a plurality of charging elements configured to electrically connect with a plurality of charge-receiving elements to charge an electric vehicle, wherein each charge-receiving element of the plurality of charge-receiving elements is electrically separated from each other; and   a positioning device configured to make and break contact between the plurality of charging elements and the plurality of charge-receiving elements.   
     
     
         39 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the capacitor is a large ultra-capacitor. 
     
     
         40 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the battery comprises a battery pack. 
     
     
         41 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the energy buffer device is configured for off-peak charging at an off-peak energy cost rate less than a peak energy cost rate, and
 wherein the energy buffer device is configured to supply some or all of a daytime energy need of the charging system with energy received from the off-peak charging.   
     
     
         42 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the energy buffer device is configured to be charged at a first charging rate, and
 wherein the energy buffer device is configured to deliver energy to charging elements of the charging system at a second charging rate faster than the first charging rate.   
     
     
         43 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the positioning device is configured to vary a spacing between the plurality of charging elements and the plurality of charge-receiving elements. 
     
     
         44 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the energy buffer device is configured for utility grade emergency power or load balancing on a utility grid. 
     
     
         45 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the charging system is configured to activate charging of the electric vehicle only when a signal establishes that an electric contact is made between the plurality of charging elements and the plurality of charge-receiving elements. 
     
     
         46 . The charging system of  claim 38 , wherein the charging system is configured to direct between about 400-800 volts DC to the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         47 . A charging system for an electric vehicle,
 a ground-supported charging station, the charging station including a plurality of charging elements electrically separated from each other, each charging element of the plurality of charging elements including a linear member extending along a longitudinal axis of the charging element, wherein the longitudinal axis of each charging element extends along a straight line;   a plurality of spaced apart charge-receiving elements positioned on a roof of the electric vehicle, wherein each charge-receiving element of the plurality of charge-receiving elements comprises a linear member that extends along a longitudinal axis of the charge-receiving element, and   a positioning device of the charging station comprising an electro-mechanical adjustment system to actively adjust a height and/or a length of the charging elements to make and break contact between the plurality of charging elements and the plurality of charge-receiving elements.   
     
     
         48 . The charging system of  claim 47 , wherein the positioning device is configured to automatically adjust the height of the charging elements to a height to allow a vehicle to drive under the charging elements. 
     
     
         49 . The charging system of  claim 47 , wherein the positioning device is configured to receive a signal indicating a vehicle type or height so that the positioning device adjusts the height of the charging elements to accommodate the vehicle type or height. 
     
     
         50 . The charging system of  claim 47 , wherein a first charging element and a second charging element of the plurality of charging elements are arranged such that the longitudinal axis of the first charging element and the longitudinal axis of the second charging element extend along a straight line. 
     
     
         51 . The charging system of  claim 47 , wherein the plurality of charge-receiving elements are arranged such that the longitudinal axis of each charge-receiving element is transverse to the longitudinal axis of each charging element. 
     
     
         52 . A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station, the charging station comprising a plurality of charging electrodes comprising at least a first charging electrode extending along a first longitudinal axis and a second charging electrode spaced apart from the first charging electrode and extending along a second longitudinal axis, the method comprising:
 emitting a signal indicating a vehicle type or height of the electric vehicle;   actively adjusting, by an electro-mechanical positioning device of the charging station, a height to accommodate the electric vehicle; and   establishing an electrical connection between a plurality of charge receiving electrodes of a roof the electric vehicle and the plurality of charging electrodes of the charging station.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 activating charging of the electric vehicle after receiving an activation signal from the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 spacing apart the first charging electrode and the second charging electrode by a spacing bar; and   actively adjusting, by an electro-mechanical length adjustment system, a space of the spacing bar to vary a distance between the first and second charging electrodes.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 communicating to the electric vehicle that the electrical connection has been established.   
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising:
 transmitting instructions to the charging station, by a control device in the electric vehicle, to establish the electrical connection between the charging station and the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 56 , further comprising:
 estimating, by a charge monitoring device of the electric vehicle, a predictive model for energy availability of the charging station and/or other charging stations along a route of the electric vehicle.