Electric vehicle charging optimization

Abstract

A system for determining a state-of-charge (SOC) of an electric vehicle includes one or more sensors supportable within the electric vehicle and a processor. The one or more sensors are configured to determine one or more values related to the electric vehicle, respectively. Each value of the one or more values represents a state of the electric vehicle or a state of an environment in which the electric vehicle is located. The processor is configured to determine an SOC of the electric vehicle based on the one or more determined values related to the electric vehicle. The device also includes a wireless communication interface configured to transmit data representative of the determined SOC of the electric vehicle and/or data representative of the one or more values related to the electric vehicle to the processor or to another processor.

1 . A system for determining a state-of-charge (SOC) of an electric vehicle, the system comprising:
 one or more sensors supportable within the electric vehicle, the one or more sensors being configured to determine one or more values related to the electric vehicle, respectively, each value of the one or more values representing a state of the electric vehicle or a state of an environment in which the electric vehicle is located;   a processor in communication with the one or more sensors, wherein the processor is configured to determine an SOC of the electric vehicle based on the one or more determined values related to the electric vehicle; and   a wireless communication interface supportable within the electric vehicle and in communication with the processor and the one or more sensors, the wireless communication interface being configured to transmit data representative of the determined SOC of the electric vehicle, data representative of the one or more values related to the electric vehicle, or the data representative of the determined SOC of the electric vehicle and the data representative of the one or more values related to the electric vehicle to the processor or to another processor, the other processor being remote from the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors are configured to determine the one or more values related to the electric vehicle at a plurality of time points. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the determination of the SOC of the electric vehicle comprises:
 estimation of energy usage over time of the electric vehicle based on the one or more values related to the electric vehicle at the plurality of times;   identification of an initial SOC; and   subtraction of the estimated energy usage over time of the electric vehicle from the identified initial SOC.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the data representative of the determined SOC includes data representative of the estimated energy usage. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is supportable within the electric vehicle, and
 wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to transmit the data representative of the determined SOC of the electric vehicle, the data representative of the one or more values related to the electric vehicle, or the data representative of the determined SOC of the electric vehicle and the data representative of the one or more values related to the electric vehicle to the other processor.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise:
 one or more gyroscopes configured to determine a tilt of the electric vehicle, an angular rate of the electric vehicle, or the tilt and the angular rate of the electric vehicle;   one or more temperature sensors configured to determine a temperature of the environment, a temperature within the electric vehicle, or the temperature of the environment and the temperature within the electric vehicle, respectively;   one or more barometric pressure sensors configured to determine an atmospheric pressure of the environment;   one or more accelerometers configured to determine acceleration of the electric vehicle;   one or more global navigation satellite system (GNSS) sensors configured to determine a velocity of the electric vehicle;   one or more atmospheric pressure sensors configured to determine an atmospheric pressure of the environment; or   any combination thereof.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify whether the electric car is connected to a particular charger based on data from the one or more sensors received by the processor, based on data received by the processor via the wireless communication interface, or based on a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is a processor supportable or supported within the electric vehicle, a processor of a server in communication with the one or more sensors via the wireless communication interface, or a processor of a mobile device in communication with the one or more sensors via the wireless communication interface. 
     
     
         9 . A method of determining a state-of-charge (SOC) of an electric vehicle, the method comprising:
 determining, by a sensor supported within the electric vehicle, a state of the electric vehicle or a state of an environment in which the electric vehicle is located;   estimating, by a first processor, an SOC of the electric vehicle based on the determined state of the electric vehicle or the determined state of the environment, the first processor being in communication with the sensor; and   transmitting, via a wireless communication interface supported within the electric vehicle, data representative of the determined state of the electric vehicle or the state of the environment in which the electric vehicle is located, data representative of the estimated SOC, or the data representative of the determined state of the electric vehicle or the state of the environment in which the electric vehicle is located and the data representative of the estimated SOC to the first processor or a second processor, the second processor being remote from the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising estimating a required charge based on the estimated SOC,
 wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting data representative of the estimated required charge.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein determining the state of the electric vehicle or the state of the environment in which the electric vehicle is located comprises:
 determining, by a gyroscope of the device, a tilt of the electric vehicle, an angular rate of the electric vehicle, or the tilt and the angular rate of the electric vehicle;   determining, by a temperature sensor of the device, a temperature of the environment or a temperature within the electric vehicle;   determining, by a barometric pressure sensor of the device, an atmospheric pressure of the environment or an altitude of the electric vehicle within the environment;   determining, by an accelerometer of the device, acceleration of the electric vehicle; or   determining, by a global positioning system (GPS) sensor of the device, a velocity of the electric vehicle.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein determining the state of the electric vehicle or the state of the environment in which the electric vehicle is located comprises determining, by the GPS sensor of the device, the velocity of the electric vehicle at a plurality of time points,
 wherein estimating the SOC of the electric vehicle comprises estimating energy usage over time of the electric vehicle based on the determined velocity of the electric vehicle at the plurality of time points.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the data representative of the estimated SOC to the second processor at a predetermined time interval or in response to a request from the second processor. 
     
     
         14 . A device for optimizing charging of a plurality of electric vehicles, the device comprising:
 a wireless communication interface; and   a first processor in communication with a plurality of second processors via the wireless communication interface, the plurality of second processors being remote from the first processor and being associated with the plurality of electric vehicles, respectively; and   wherein the first processor is configured to:
 receive, via the wireless communication interface, data from the plurality of second processors, the received data includes data representing state-of-charge (SOC) for at least some electric vehicles of the plurality of electric vehicles, data representing energy requirements for at least some electric vehicles of the plurality of electric vehicles, sensor data from at least some electric vehicles of the plurality of electric vehicles, or any combination thereof; 
 identify power supply information; and 
 determine charging schedules for the plurality of electric vehicles, respectively, based on the data representing SOC, the data representing energy requirements, the sensor data, or any combination thereof, and the identified power supply information, the determination of the charging schedules comprising optimization of how to charge each electric vehicle of the plurality of electric vehicles, such that a cost for charging the plurality of electric vehicles is minimized, and 
   wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to transmit the determined charging schedules, such that the plurality of electric vehicles are chargeable based on the determined charging schedules.   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the first processor is also in communication with one or more charger adapters associated with one or more electric vehicles of the plurality of electric vehicles, respectively, at least one charger connectable to at least one electric vehicle of the plurality of electric vehicles, or a combination thereof, and
 wherein the wireless communication interface is configured to transmit the determined charging schedules for the one or more electric vehicles associated with the one or more charger adapters, the at least one electric vehicle connectable to the at least one charger, or the combination thereof to the one or more charger adapters, the at least one charger, or the combination thereof, respectively, such that the one or more electric vehicles, the at least one electric vehicle, or the combination thereof is chargeable based on the determined charging schedules.   
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first processor is in communication with a charger of the at least one charger, the charger being connected to two or more electric vehicles of the plurality of electric vehicles, and
 wherein the processor is configured to optimize how to charge each electric vehicle of the two or more electric vehicles via the charger, such that the cost for charging the two or more electric vehicles is minimized.   
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16 , wherein the optimization of how to charge each electric vehicle of the two or more electric vehicles via the charger comprises determination, for a predetermined time period, of a charging power, a charging time period, one or more no charging time periods, or any combination thereof for each electric vehicle of the two or more electric vehicles. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the first processor is further configured to:
 determine a state-of-charge (SOCs) of an electrical vehicle of the plurality of electric vehicles based on the received data representing SOC for the electric vehicle;   compare the determined SOC of the electric vehicle to a predetermined minimum charge;   determine whether the determined SOC is less than the predetermined minimum charge based on the comparison; and   instruct a charger of the at least one charger to charge the electric vehicle when the determined SOC is less than the predetermined minimum charge.   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the charging schedules for the plurality of electric vehicles, respectively, at least based on the data representing SOC, the sensor data, or the data representing SOC and the sensor data, and
 wherein the data representing SOC, the sensor data, or the data representing SOC and the sensor data include data from one or more on-board diagnostic systems of the plurality of electric vehicles.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 14 , wherein the identified power supply information includes grid information and interconnection infrastructure information, and
 wherein the grid information includes open automated demand response information, market pricing, demand projections, generation asset type, or any combination thereof.