Patent classifications
B60L11/18
WARM-UP APPARATUS FOR FUEL CELL FOR VEHICLE
Provided is a warm-up apparatus for a fuel cell for an electrically driven vehicle in which a fuel cell and a secondary battery are mounted as power sources of a motor for travelling, and which, when charging of the secondary battery is required, stops operation of the fuel cell and charges the secondary battery with electric power from an external power source by means of a battery charger. The warm-up apparatus includes: a secondary battery cooling circuit that cools the secondary battery; a fuel cell cooling circuit that cools the fuel cell; a connection passage that connects the secondary battery cooling circuit and the fuel cell cooling circuit through a switching valve; and a warm-up control unit that, during charging of the secondary battery, controls the switching valve so that the secondary battery cooling circuit and the fuel cell cooling circuit communicate through the connection passage.
Mobile Vehicle Refueling System
A system whereby a mobile fuel station may refuel vehicles is disclosed. Fuel reservoirs are provided in a mobile fuel station that may store fuel and dispense fuel through a hybrid fuel line. Fuel nozzles are provided which can be detachably connected to the hybrid fuel line and can measure and display fuel dispensed from the mobile fuel station. Communication devices and a network are provided that allow a vehicle and a mobile fuel station to communicate location and status information wirelessly with the network. Refueling services and maintenance services that may be carried out using the mobile fuel station are also disclosed and claimed herein.
Securized and portable electric vehicle charger
An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having ability to charge electric vehicle from indoor located 208-240V outlets. The EVSE comprises a flattened armored cable to securely transmit electrical power to outdoor location from indoor located electrical source. In the preferred embodiment, the flattened armored section acts as EVSE anchoring system which providing ease of installation when temporary electric vehicle recharging is required. The EVSE has ability to disconnect electrical power passing through the flat armored cable in case of non proper conditions or if any electrical hazard occurs. A further embodiment comprises a flexible version of flat cable. To enhance its electrical safety, flat wire conductor comprising damage sensor is used to improve the electrical safety. The EVSE may validate flat wire physical integrity before applying electrical power to the flattened flexible cable.
POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM
A power conversion system includes a transformer, a power conversion device for travel, a power conversion device for auxiliary power sources, and an electrical storage device. The power conversion device for auxiliary power sources includes a first AC to DC conversion unit, a power conversion unit for AC loads, and a power conversion unit for DC loads. The power conversion unit for AC loads converts DC power into AC power and supplies it to an AC load. The power conversion unit for DC loads converts DC power produced through conversion by the first AC to DC conversion unit into DC power and supplies it to a DC load. The electrical storage device is connected to power lines connecting DC power output terminals of the first AC to DC conversion unit and DC power input terminals of both the power conversion units for AC and DC loads. When power supplied from a tertiary winding of the transformer to the first AC to DC conversion unit is reduced, the electrical storage device discharges power corresponding to the power reduction.
COIL ALIGNMENT METHOD IN WIRELESS POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM AND APPARATUS USING THE SAME
A coil alignment method performed in a vehicle-side coil alignment apparatus coupled to a vehicle assembly (VA) controller includes: moving a light-blocking unit protruding from a vehicle parked in a wireless charging area in a first direction toward the ground facing one side of a vehicle-side wireless power transfer pad which is mounted on the vehicle and includes a VA coil, where the light-blocking unit protrudes from the one side of the vehicle-side wireless power transfer pad; stopping movement of the light-blocking unit in response to a first stop signal from a ground assembly (GA) controller; moving the light-blocking unit in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; and stopping movement of the light-blocking unit in response to a second stop signal from the GA controller.
POWER CONTROL APPARATUS FOR FUEL CELL VEHICLE
Provided is a power control apparatus for a fuel cell vehicle which includes a fuel cell and which is driven by an electric motor that is supplied with electric power from the fuel cell. The power control apparatus includes an accelerator sensor that detects an operation of an accelerator, and a control unit that controls the fuel cell to increase the output power of the fuel cell so as to correspond to an increase in a requested acceleration output based on the detected accelerator opening degree. When the accelerator opening degree is less than a first accelerator determination value that is set in advance, the control unit controls the fuel cell to suppress an increase in the output power thereof.
METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING A VEHICLE
Methods and apparatus are disclosed for positioning a vehicle. An apparatus for determining positioning information for a vehicle may comprise a plurality of receive coil circuits and a hardware processor. The plurality of receive coil circuits is configured to generate voltage signals from a magnetic field. The hardware processor is configured to generate position estimates of a position of the magnetic field generator with respect to a position of the plurality of receive coils. Each of the first sequence of position estimates is determined based upon a corresponding voltage vector derived from the voltage signals and at least one of a plurality of reference vectors. The hardware processor is configured to update the plurality of reference vectors based upon the first sequence of position estimates and a second sequence of position estimates generated based upon a source different from the plurality of receive coil circuits.
CHARGING APPARATUS WITH STATUS INDICATION
A charging apparatus with status indication for charging an electric vehicle. The charging apparatus includes a power supply device and a coupler. The power supply device includes a processing module, an indicator control unit and a signal modulation unit. The coupler is electrically connected to the power supply device through a power cable and includes a signal demodulation unit and an indicator unit. The processing module instructs the indicator control unit to output a status control signal to the signal modulation unit according to the connection status of the coupler and the electrical vehicle. The signal modulation unit modulates the status control signal and transmits the modulated status control signal through the power cable to the signal demodulation unit. The signal demodulation unit demodulates the modulated status control signal into the status control signal and outputs the status control signal to the indicator unit.
SOLAR ENERGY BASED MOBILE ELECTRIC VEHICLE FAST CHARGER SYSTEM
A solar energy based mobile EV fast charger (SE-MEVFC) system comprising a mobile EV fast charger system installed in the service track for providing EV charging service and a stationary solar energy generation system located in the charging station as power source for recharging mobile on-board storage battery, offers EV charging servicers for EVs where they stranded on the road or in remote area. The SE-MEVFC system has following unique features: (1) since it has universal battery interface, it can charge any EV battery; (2) since its energy source comes from solar energy based EV charging station, it provides 100% pollution free EV charging service; (3) since it is high power battery charger system, EV battery can be fully charged in minutes rather than hours, unlike those of prior art that use gasoline based generators to generate AC power and relies on low power EV on-board charger (OBC) to charge EV battery, namely, for over 2 hours charging time getting about 10 miles driving range. Therefore, a solar energy based mobile EV fast charger (SE-MEVFC) system can ease drivers' anxiety for not being able to find charging station effectively, and at same times it makes EV operation completely pollution free and hence increases MPGe of EVs.
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INTEGRATION OF ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS WITH PHOTOVOLTAIC, WIND, HYDRO, THERMAL AND OTHER ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GENERATION EQUIPMENT
In accordance with one aspect of the embodiments described herein, there are provided systems and methods for integration of electric vehicle charging stations with photovoltaic, wind, hydro, thermal and other alternative energy generation equipment. In various embodiments, the aforesaid integration is used to perform balancing of the electrical power generated by the aforesaid photovoltaic, wind, hydro, thermal and other alternative energy generation equipment and the electrical power consumed by the aforesaid EVSE equipment. In one exemplary embodiment, the aforesaid balancing may be performed on a house (building) level. In another exemplary embodiment, the balancing may be performed on a neighborhood level.