A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.

A vehicle battery charger and a vehicle battery charging system are described and illustrated, and can include a controller enabling a user to enter a time of day at which the vehicle battery charger or system begins and/or ends charging of the vehicle battery. The vehicle battery charger can be separate from the vehicle, can be at least partially integrated into the vehicle, can include a transmitter and/or a receiver capable of communication with a controller that is remote from the vehicle and vehicle charger, and can be controlled by a user or another party (e.g., a power utility) to control battery charging based upon a time of day, cost of power, or other factors.

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.

A charging station includes an alternating current (AC) electrical power input and at least one direct current (DC) electrical power module coupled to the AC electrical power input. The charging station also includes at least one station output having a vehicle DC electrical power output, a communications output, and a dispenser DC electrical power output, the dispenser DC electrical power output being configured to be coupled to at least one dispenser. The charging station further includes a communications hub including at least one communications network connection, the communications hub being configured to receive information relating to an amount of DC electrical power to be delivered to a particular dispenser coupled to the charging station. Further still, the charging station includes a master controller configured to receive the information from the communications hub relating to the amount of DC electrical power to be delivered to the particular dispenser coupled to the charging station and provide a control signal to one of the at least one DC electrical power modules, the control signal being based on the information and being configured to control the amount of DC electrical power sent through one of the at least one DC electrical power modules.

A method for controlling a charge transfer of an electric vehicle using an electric vehicle charging station, a mobile device, and a cloud server is disclosed. The method includes: receiving, at a mobile device, a message for an electric vehicle of a user from the electric vehicle charging station, wherein a user of the mobile device is associated with the electric vehicle to be charged; sending, from the mobile device, the message for the electric vehicle of the user to the cloud server, wherein the charge transfer request relayed from the mobile device includes identification information; in response to a charging control signal being authorized using identification information received from the mobile device, receiving the charging control signal from the cloud server at the mobile device to be forwarded to the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the charging control signal is configured to adjust a charging parameter at the electric vehicle charging station.

A vehicle electrical system includes an electrical storage, a first multiphase electrical machine having a plurality of stator windings connected to common neutral point, a first inverter operatively connected to the electrical storage and to the first multiphase electrical machine, wherein the first inverter has a plurality of switch legs with switches, a second multiphase electrical machine having a plurality of stator windings connected to a common neutral point, a second inverter operatively connected to the electrical storage and to the second multiphase electrical machine, wherein the second inverter has a plurality of switch legs with switches, a bidirectional buck-boost DC/DC converter operatively connected to the common neutral point of the first multiphase electrical machine and to the common neutral point of the second multiphase electrical machine and configured for using at least one stator winding of each of the first and second multiphase electrical machines as buck-boost inductance.

A charging apparatus for a vehicle where a terminal (1, FIG. 2) is connected to at least one kerbside power/data unit (9) to provide a power (4) and a data connection (5) to the power/data unit (9), the power/data unit (9) being connected to a nearby vehicle (17) to provide power to charge the vehicle (17) and receive data from the vehicle (17). The fact that the kerbside power/data unit (9) can charge a vehicle (17) using power supplied from a terminal (1, FIG. 2) and can transmit data from the vehicle (17) to the terminal (1, FIG. 2) provides the power and data requirements for connected autonomous vehicles at a kerbside location.

Techniques are presented for scheduling the charging of electric vehicles (EVs) that protect the resources of local low voltage distribution networks. From utilities, data on local low voltage distribution networks, such as the rating of a distribution transformer through which a group of EVs are supplied, is provided to a load manager application. Telematics information on vehicle usage is provided from the EVs, such as by way of the original equipment manufacturer. From these data, the load manager application determines schedules for charging the group of EVs through a shared low voltage distribution network so that the capabilities of the local low voltage distribution network are not exceeded while meeting the needs of the EV user. Charging schedules are then transmitted to the on-board control systems of the EVs for implementation.

An example operation includes one or more of determining, by a transport at a first location, that the transport is not in use, determining, by the transport, a second location to transfer energy stored in the transport, maneuvering, by the transport, to the second location, discharging, by the transport, the stored energy to the second location, and maneuvering, by the transport, to the first location.

A power calculation apparatus calculating an amount of power suppliable to a power system by an energy source connectable, at a connection point, to the power system and capable of power generation and power storing, the power calculation apparatus includes: a microprocessor and a memory connected to the microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor is configured to perform: specifying a position of the connection point of the energy source in connection with the power system; acquiring a capacity information indicating a power generation capacity or a remaining storage capacity of the energy source; and calculating an amount of power suppliable by the energy source to the power system in an area within a predetermined range including the connection point, based on the capacity information and the position of the connection point.