Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with detecting an electric vehicle charging event. In one embodiment, from electricity consumption data from a known set of electric vehicle owners, the method encodes usage values from time intervals with a symbol from a series of symbols representing a level of electricity consumption during the time interval. The encoding generates an encoded consumption pattern of symbols for each electrical vehicle owner. An EV charge motif is identified that represents an EV charging event. One or more machine learning classifiers is trained to identify the EV charge motifs from the known set of electric vehicle owners and to distinguish from non-charge motifs to identify EV charges from unknown data sets.

An embodiment vehicle charging device includes a battery, an inverter electrically connected to the battery, a communicator configured to communicate with a constituent element included in a vehicle, and a controller configured to identify whether a person is present within a predetermined reference distance range from the vehicle based on signals received through the communicator during charging of the battery and to adjust a switching frequency of the inverter such that a voltage supplied to the battery is converted based on the identification result indicating presence or absence of the person within the predetermined reference distance range.

Methods and systems are provided for adjusting a height of an electric vehicle with an adjustable suspension system. In one example, a method comprises: during a vehicle stop event, adjusting a height of a skateboard frame of an electric vehicle via an adjustable suspension system, based on at least one sensor input indicative of a desired skateboard frame height. In this way, user activities, including loading and unloading, may be facilitated.

A system for discharging or charging a capacitor of a hybrid vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a target state of charge (SOC) module and a capacitor charge/discharge module. The target SOC module determines a target state of charge of the capacitor based on a speed of the vehicle. The capacitor charge/discharge module determines whether a state of charge of a capacitor is greater than a target state of charge. The capacitor charge/discharge module dissipates power from the capacitor to at least one of a battery of the vehicle and an electrical load of the vehicle when the state of charge of the capacitor is greater than the target state of charge.

When a prescribed operation is performed during execution of AC charging, an ECU of a vehicle performs a charging stop process. The ECU determines whether or not a resume condition is satisfied during the charging stop process. When the resume condition is satisfied and when a charging connector is connected to an inlet, the ECU brings a locking device to a locked state and resumes the AC charging. When the resume condition is not satisfied or when the charging connector is not connected to the inlet, the ECU does not resume the AC charging.

Various example embodiments relate to managing charging stations of electric vehicles based on a proximity of a user. A beacon transmitter is configured to broadcast identifiers of a charging station and of a list of allowed users. A mobile device of the user is configured to detect a proximity of the beacon transmitter and determine if the charging station can be set for charging based on an identifier of the user, the identifier of the charging station and the identifier of the user list. Apparatuses, methods, and computer programs are disclosed.

The disclosed embodiments include a charging station for an electric vehicle. The charging station includes a plurality of light sources, one or more processors, and memory storing instructions for performing a set of operations. The set of operations includes determining a state of the charging station, the state indicating a status of an electric vehicle at the charging station. In accordance with a determination that the state is a first state, the charging station provides a first visual indication of the first state using a first light source of the plurality of light sources. In accordance with a determination that the state is a second state, the charging station provides a second visual indication of the second state.

A method of controlling a drone positioned in a vehicle includes: determining the initial condition of the drone positioned inside the vehicle, releasing locking of the drone upon receiving a user request from a vehicle controller, receiving vehicle state information from the vehicle controller by a drone controller, performing flight of the drone in response to the user request, and after completing the user request, returning the drone to an initial position thereof.

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors). To allow easy and convenient access to empty portable electrical energy storage device compartments within the vehicles, if the vehicle comes within the vicinity of a collection, charging and distribution machine or other authorized external device such as a key fob or other wireless device of a user, an empty portable electrical energy storage device compartment that is closed or locked, is unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically. Also, if the portable electrical energy storage device compartment is in another desired state to have the compartment unlocked, such as having a portable electrical energy storage device in the compartment that has a charge level below a particular threshold, the compartment will likewise be unlocked, unlatched or opened automatically.

Systems and methods are described which provide targeted advertisements to a charging station for electric vehicles. A data collector records data associated with individuals near a charging station. A meter determines whether the charging station is being used to charge an electric vehicle. When the charging station is being used, a display displays advertisements targeted to the individuals. The targeted advertisements are selected from a database according to the data recorded by the data collector, and the database stores advertising content with discrete advertising segments that are electronically accessible. A processor is coupled to the data collector, the meter, and the display. The processor transmits the data recorded by the data collector, and receives the targeted advertisements.