A multi-purpose detection circuit for object detection and vehicle position determination is described. For example, the circuit is configurable for detecting foreign metallic objects, living objects, and a vehicle or type of vehicle above an inductive wireless power transmitter. The circuit is also configurable for determining the vehicle's position relative to the inductive wireless power transmitter. An example apparatus includes a measurement circuit including a multiplexer, electrically connected to a plurality of inductive and capacitive sense circuits, for measuring one or more electrical characteristics in each of the inductive and capacitive sense circuits according to a predetermined time multiplexing scheme. The apparatus further includes a control and evaluation circuit for evaluating the measured electrical characteristics and determining at least one of a presence of a metallic object, a living object, a vehicle, or a type of vehicle, and a vehicle position based on changes in the measured electrical characteristics.

The present disclosure provides a system and method for performing an automatic port over process to replace and/or add to calibration data of an electric vehicle with updated calibration data, comprising: downloading the updated calibration data from a remote computing system; determining whether a charging port of the vehicle is connected to a charging station; determining whether a charging event is complete, wherein an energy storage system of the vehicle receives electrical energy from the charging station through the charging port; determining whether the vehicle is located within a predetermined geo-fence location; and performing the automatic port over process in response to (1) the charging port being connected to the charging station, (2) the charging event being complete, and (3) the vehicle being located within a predetermined geo-fence location

The present invention presents a method providing an additional service during electric vehicle charging by (a) the electric vehicle charger (200) detecting connection with an electric vehicle (100) via a charging cable; (b) the electric vehicle charger (200) exchanging charging messages through a charging port in a PLC modem, when the connection is detected in step (a); and (c) the electric vehicle charger (200) providing an additional service for the electric vehicle once the charging begins, and therefore, providing additional services such as software updates, vehicle contents updates requested by a driver during the charging of the electric vehicle, and thus providing convenience for the car owners without visiting car diagnostic service center.

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 system for charging an electric vehicle having at least one power induction coil under control of a processor wirelessly charges an electric vehicle, wherein the at least one power induction coil is positioned in proximity to a parking location; and a parking manager device manages permissions for electric vehicles to park in one or more parking locations included in a parking zone associated with the parking manager device, wherein the parking manager also manages permissions for electric vehicles to charge via wireless charging while parked in the one or more parking locations, wherein the parking manager device has a unique address and the zone, parking locations, and charging stations associated with the parking manager device have associated unique sub-addresses associated with the parking manager device unique address.

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.

An electric vehicle charging method includes at a user terminal, transmitting a location information of the user terminal to a management sever; at the management sever, determining at least one usable charging device corresponding to the location information; at the management sever, transmitting information for at least one determined charging device to the user terminal; at the user terminal, choosing at least one charging device among the at least one determined charging device; at the user terminal, transmitting a preemption request information for preemption at least one chosen charging device to the management server; at the management sever, locking at least one charging device corresponding to the preemption request information by transmitting a preemption order signal; at the management sever, transmitting information for a user of the user terminal to locked charging device; and unlocking the charging device corresponding to inputting a authentication information for authentication of the user.

A vehicle provides information on a plurality of chargers that charge a battery mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle includes a navigation screen and an ECU. The ECU controls the navigation screen to show a map and to show a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of chargers at corresponding positions of the plurality of chargers on the map. The ECU controls the navigation screen to show the plurality of icons to allow identification of a charging type to which each of the plurality of chargers is adapted and magnitude of electric power that can be output under the charging type.

Methods and systems are provided. One method includes processing operations to share electronic keys (e-keys). The method includes receiving a request to share an electronic key (e-key) of a vehicle with a recipient device. The request to share the e-key is initiated by sending a message to the recipient device using a sharing device. The method includes processing the request to validate the request to share the e-key, as received from the sharing device having associated therewith a registered owner e-key. Processing the request includes generating the e-key securely by the sharing device and registering the e-key that was generated with a server associated with a manufacturer of the vehicle. The method includes enabling the e-key for use on the vehicle by the recipient device responsive to said processing of the request. The request to share the e-key includes enabling a setting to apply a privilege level for use of the vehicle via the e-key. The privilege level provides one or more conditions of use of the vehicle via the e-key.