An autonomous base station for unmanned aerial vehicles (‘UAVs’) is disclosed, which includes a landing surface for a UAV, configured with at least one power transfer bus for supplying power to a power source of a UAV thereon. The base station further includes a networking module and data processing means operably connected to, and configured to control, the power transfer bus and the networking module. The data processing means is operably connected to the UAV through the networking module, and further configured to receive, store and process data from the UAV or another. The base station further includes a power supply operably connected to the or each power transfer bus, the or each networking module and the data processing means. A network of at least two such base stations is also disclosed, for sensing, modelling and monitoring an environment with UAVs.

A device for providing charging information for a charging process is configured to determine a total set of N data tuples for N different times of a charging time period for the charging process. A data tuple includes values of one or more characteristic variables relating to electrical energy that can be provided in the charging process. Furthermore, the device is configured to reduce the total set of N data tuples to a reduced set of M data tuples, with M<N, and to provide the reduced set of M data tuples for the determination of a charging plan for the charging process.

A robot apparatus for establishing a charging connection between a charging device and an energy storage unit of a motor vehicle, having a movement unit, by which the robot apparatus is movable in relation to the charging device and the motor vehicle, having a receptacle device, by which a charging element of the charging device can be received, can be coupled to a coupling element of the energy storage unit and subsequently released, and having a detection unit, by which a position of the coupling element on the motor vehicle is ascertainable, wherein the robot apparatus is connectable by a support device to the motor vehicle, whereby a force is transmittable from the robot apparatus to the motor vehicle.

A system and method for managing vehicle charging stations such that when at least two of a plurality of electric vehicle charging stations (also known as electric vehicle service equipment, or EVSE) occupied with vehicles awaiting a charge, the present system manages the charging of individual vehicles in cases where the aggregated demand for charging exceeds the capacity of the circuits supplying the plurality of EVSE. By cycling so that only a few of the vehicles are charging at a time, the demand on the circuits is kept below a predetermined limit. In cases where a load shedding event is in progress, the limit can be further reduced. In cases where the cost of electricity is varying dynamically, the system considers a driver's explicit charging requirements (if any) and preferences for opportunistic charging when the price of electricity is not too high.

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.

A method for determination of a maximum real range of an electric vehicle equipped with a battery having a variable charging state within a cycling domain. The method includes getting a first and second magnitude indicative of an electric voltage at the terminals of the battery, respectively for an initial value and for a final value of the state of charge within the cycling domain. The method further includes a predetermined demand on the battery during which the charging state of the battery varies within the cycling domain from the initial value to a final value. The method further includes determining the maximum real range of the vehicle based on an estimate of a difference between the second magnitude and the first magnitude.

Systems and methods for charging electric vehicles and for quantitative and qualitative load balancing of electrical demand are provided.

The present disclosure relates to methods and associated systems for operating a battery exchange station. The present method includes (1) receiving a ratio associated with a plurality of vehicles served by the battery exchange station; and (2) based on the ratio, storing different sets of information in memories associated with the batteries respectively, in accordance with received ratio.

An electric vehicle charging station charging electric vehicles dynamically responds to power limit messages. The charging station includes a charging port that is configured to electrically connect to an electric vehicle to provide power to charge that electric vehicle. The charging station also includes a power control unit coupled with the charging port, the power control unit configured to control an amount of power provided through the charging port. The charging station also includes a set of one or more charging station control modules that are configured to, in response to receipt of a message that indicates a request to limit an amount of power to an identified percentage and based on a history of power provided through the charging port over a period of time, cause the power control unit to limit the power provided through the charging port to the identified percentage.

The invention relates to a device and a method for automatically charging an electrical energy storage means in a vehicle. For this purpose, firstly, the position of a charging socket on a vehicle is determined, based on vehicle-specific data. Subsequently, a charging robot travels on the ground near to the charging socket. Then, the charging robot establishes a galvanic connection between the charging station and charging socket. For this purpose, the charging robot introduces a contact head connected to the charging station into the charging socket of the vehicle. After termination of the charging process, the contact head is removed from the charging socket, thereby releasing the vehicle.