When a process of returning a vehicle is performed, a fee setting device identifies a zone where the vehicle is returned, and calculates the identified zone's zone SOC. The fee setting device determines whether a discount for leveling is applicable. The fee setting device compares a zone SOC of a zone where a user rented a vehicle and a zone SOC of a zone where the user returned the vehicle. When the zone SOC of the zone where the user rented the vehicle is larger than the zone SOC of the zone where the user returned the vehicle, the discount for leveling is applied.

An electric vehicle charger includes a power supply and a controller. The power supply is for supplying electric power over a charging connection to an electric vehicle. The charging connection employs charging conductors to supply electric power from the power supply to the electric vehicle for charging. The power supply is adapted to send data to and receive data from the electric vehicle over the charging conductors according to a power-line communications protocol. The controller coupled to the power supply to control supply of electric power to the electric vehicle, The controller is adapted to, prior to initiating supply of electric power by the power supply to the electric vehicle for charging, communicate with the electric vehicle to identify a payment method associated with the electric vehicle and with the payment network to authorize the payment method for payment for electric power supplied to the electric vehicle for charging.

An in-cable control box (ICCB) mounted on an electric vehicle (EV) charging cable, which performs conductive charging for an EV as connected to a power outlet and an inlet of the EV, includes at least one processor, a first communication module, a second communication module, and a memory storing instructions executed by the at least one processor. Also, the instructions are configured to cause the first communication module to collect information on an EV by communicating with an electric vehicle communication controller (EVCC) of the EV; and cause the second communication module to transmit the information on the EV to a supply equipment communication controller (SECC). As such, it is possible to charge the EV in an economical manner as compared to a standard defining conductive charging process.

A network of collection, charging and/or distribution machines collect, charge and/or distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). In some embodiments, if the user selects to change their current portable electrical power storage device exchange plan to a two-portable electrical power storage device exchange plan while exchanging their current portable electrical power storage device, the user will return their current portable electrical power storage device and will receive two portable electrical power storage devices in exchange at the collection, charging and distribution machine. The user may also be required to pay additional fees and/or commit to additional obligations while at the collection, charging and distribution machine in order to change to the different portable electrical power storage device exchange plan.

Provided is a control method including: receiving, from first power equipment, first transaction data including, for example, transmitted power amount information indicating the amount of power transmitted to power accumulation equipment; obtaining, from the power accumulation equipment, received power information including, for example, received power amount information indicating the amount of power received from the first power equipment; verifying the first transaction data by referring to the received power information; executing a first consensus algorithm with second servers when the first transaction data is verified successfully; and recording a block including the first transaction data in a distributed ledger of a first server when the validity of the first transaction data is verified through the first consensus algorithm.

An access control system for electric vehicle charging is provided that includes an access device, a secure reservation interface, a reservation server and a smartphone application installed on the smartphone. The access device includes a short-range wireless communication module connected to a processor having control of an electric vehicle charger. The secure reservation interface receives a reservation request for a reservation at a given destination. The reservation server receives the reservation request for the destination, issues a reservation certificate, and transmits the reservation certificate from the reservation server to a smartphone. The smartphone application has access to a short range wireless communication setting corresponding to the access device. The access device receives the reservation certificate from the smartphone application based on use by the smartphone application of the short-range wireless communication setting. The processor activates the electric vehicle charger based on at least the receipt of the reservation certificate.

A computer implemented method for managing charge availability of a charge unit (CU) to obtain charge for a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) is provided. The CU includes a computer for processing at least part of the method and for communicating with a server over a network. The method includes receiving, by the server, status information from the computer of the CU. The method includes sending to the computer of the CU instructions to make a reservation for the CU. The reservation is for a user account that has requested a desire to charge the battery of the electric vehicle of the user at the CU or another CU. The method includes sending, by the server, a confirmation for the reservation to the user account. The confirmation is viewable via a device having access to the server via the user account. The method includes sending, by the server, a data regarding a time of availability of the CU to the user account for the reservation. The computer of the CU is configured to display a visual indicator regarding the reservation of the CU.

Block chain based, decentralized transaction settlement systems and methods for wireless electric vehicle charging stations which enables real-time monitoring of electric vehicle charging demand for distribution system managers. The system is operable to enable easy implementation of rebate programs for electric vehicle owners, as well as charging station owners, and provides a secure, cost efficient, and transparent transaction settlement system using block chain software technology.

An additive injection system includes an additive injection controller operable to: (a) receive fuel data; (b) determine, from the fuel data, a total fuel amount corresponding to a total volume of fuel present in a fuel tank; (c) determine an untreated fuel amount corresponding to a delivered volume of untreated fuel delivered into the fuel tank, the untreated fuel amount determined based on the total fuel amount and a treated fuel amount corresponding to an expected volume of treated fuel expected to be present in the fuel tank; and (d) in response to determining that the untreated fuel amount exceeds an injection threshold, generate an injection signal to initiate injection of fuel additive into a fuel stream of untreated fuel being delivered into the fuel tank via the fuel tank inlet.

A method of processing a transaction includes receiving a site location code. Site configuration information corresponding to the received site location code is received from a database. That information includes more product record(s), each corresponding to a reservable product or a non-reservable product. A selection of one or more of the product records in the retrieved information is received. If any selected product record corresponds to a reservable product, a reservation command is produced. That command requests reservation of selected reservable product(s). A method of selecting a product includes receiving a location input and determining a site location code with it. The site location code is transmitted and one or more product records are received. Representations of one or more of the received product records are presented and a selection of products is received. An indication of the selection is transmitted.