CHARGING STATION FOR AN ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The invention relates to a charging column that is suitable for charging electric vehicles, with an internal combustion engine, a tank for a liquid energy carrier, a fuel line from the tank to the internal combustion engine, a fuel heating device for heating the fuel in the fuel line, a generator, a connection device that is adapted to be connected to an electric vehicle, wherein the device for connecting the electric vehicle is suitable for transmitting electric energy to the electric vehicle and wherein the generator is coupled to the internal combustion engine in such a way that the kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine can be converted into electric energy by the generator.

Claims

1. A charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles (90), comprising: an internal combustion engine (3) a tank (6) for a liquid energy carrier, a fuel line (12) from the tank (6) to the combustion engine (3) a fuel heating device (13) for heating the fuel in the fuel line (12) a generator (4), a connection device (14) which is adapted to be connected to an electric vehicle (90), wherein the device for connecting the electric vehicle is suitable for transmitting electric energy to the electric vehicle and wherein the generator is coupled to the internal combustion engine (3) in such a way that the kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine (3) can be converted into electric energy by the generator (4).

2. The charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles (90), according to claim 1, characterized in that the charging column (1) has an electric energy store which is suitable and intended for providing the electric energy required for starting and/or operating the fuel heating device (13).

3. The charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles (90), according to claim 1, characterized in that the internal combustion engine (3) is suitable and intended to be operated with a liquid energy carrier having a methanol and/or ethanol content of >50% by volume and/or the tank has a liquid energy carrier having a methanol and/or ethanol content of >50% by volume.

4. The charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles (90), according claim 1, characterized in that the charging column (1) has a control unit (9) which is suitable and/or provided for controlling the operation of the fuel heating device (13).

5. The charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles (90), according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel heating device (13) has a PTC ceramic or an electric resistance heater.

6. The charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles (90), according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel heating device (13) is arranged in the immediate vicinity of the fuel line (12), wherein the waste heat from the fuel heating device (13) can be used to heat the fuel line (12).

7. The charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the charging column (1) has a housing (2) in which the internal combustion engine (3), the fuel line (12), the fuel heating device (13), the control unit, the generator (4), and/or the electric energy store are arranged.

8. The charging column (1), which is suitable for charging electric vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel heating device (13) is provided and suitable for heating the intake air in such a way that the fuel can be heated by mixing the heated air with the fuel.

9. A method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90), which method has the following method steps: supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine (3) heating the fuel operating the internal combustion engine (3) with the heated fuel generating electric energy from the kinetic energy of the internal combustion engine (3) delivering the generated electric energy to an electric vehicle (90).

10. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fuel heating device (13) is started and/or operated by electric energy from an energy store (5).

11. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that methanol and/or ethanol having a methanol and/or ethanol content of >50% by volume is heated as fuel in the fuel line.

12. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fuel is heated by the fuel heating device (13) arranged in the immediate vicinity of the fuel line (12).

13. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fuel heating device (13) is operated by a control unit (9).

14. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fuel is heated by a PTC ceramic and/or a resistance heater.

15. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the heated fuel is atomized.

16. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the heated fuel is mixed with a gas to form a fuel-gas mixture and then ignited in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine (3).

17. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that a transmission arranged between the internal combustion engine (3) and the generator (4) is designed in such a way that the current generated by the generator (4) alternates at a frequency of 50 Hz.

18. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fuel is heated by the fuel heating device (13) to a temperature T of T > 10° C., preferably T > 15° C., and particularly preferably T > 20° C.

19. The method for generating electric energy in a charging column (1) for charging electric vehicles (90) according to claim 9, characterized in that the fuel is heated as a result of mixing with preheated air.

Description

[0045] Exemplary embodiments of the charging column according to the invention for charging electric vehicles and the method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles are shown schematically in simplified form in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description. Wherein:

[0046] FIG. 1: shows an exemplary embodiment of the charging column according to the invention with a resistance heater

[0047] FIG. 2: shows an exemplary embodiment of the charging column according to the invention with a PTC heater

[0048] FIG. 3: shows an exemplary embodiment of the charging column according to the invention without a separate fuel heating device,

[0049] FIG. 4: shows an exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention for charging electric vehicles

[0050] An exemplary embodiment of the charging column 1 according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1. The charging column 1 has an internal combustion engine 3. The internal combustion engine 3 is usually a piston combustion engine 3, which is externally ignited according to the Otto principle (4-stroke) by means of a spark plug, for example. However, other designs are also possible, such as a Wankel engine or turbine. The internal combustion engine 3 has intake manifold injection, in which the fuel is atomized by means of a fuel injection valve 14 in the intake tract upstream of the intake valve of the internal combustion engine 3 to form an ignitable mixture with the oxygen in the air.

[0051] The internal combustion engine 3 is advantageously operated with a liquid energy carrier (fuel) which has a methanol and/or ethanol content of at least 50% by volume. Pure methanol (methanol content >95% by volume) is preferably used for operation in the charging column 1 illustrated in this exemplary embodiment.

[0052] This fuel can be produced from biomass in an environmentally friendly manner, has long been established worldwide as a fuel and is therefore available at low cost. Transport and storage as well as the operation of methanol in internal combustion engines 3 is comparable to conventional gasoline (for motor vehicles) and is therefore unproblematic.

[0053] The fuel is stored in the charging column 1 according to the invention in a tank 6 which is connected to the internal combustion engine 3 via the fuel line 12. To preheat the fuel, particularly when starting the internal combustion engine 3 and in its cold-running phase, a fuel heating device 13 is installed in the immediate vicinity of the fuel line 12. In this exemplary embodiment, the fuel heating device 13 is an electrical resistance heater whose current-carrying coils are wound around the fuel line 12 and thus heat the fuel in the fuel line 12.

[0054] The internal combustion engine 3 drives the generator 4 by rotation. The kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine 3 is thus converted into electric energy by the generator 4, into an alternating current which has a frequency of 50 Hz. The constant frequency of the alternating current is ensured by a transmission between the internal combustion engine 3 and the generator 4. The transmission is implemented, for example, by means of a gear; driving the generator 4 by means of a toothed belt or toothed chain is simpler, more cost-effective and at the same time more robust in daily operation.

[0055] Furthermore, an electric energy store 5 (rechargeable battery) 9 and a device for transporting the liquid energy carrier 11 are installed in the charging column 1. The energy store 5 supplies the control unit 9, by means of which the charging column 1 detects and initiates the beginning or the end of a charging process. In addition, the control unit 9 controls the operation of the internal combustion engine 3 in such a way that the internal combustion engine 3 runs in a defined speed range that is kept constant. This is usually in the partial load range to ensure efficient fuel consumption. To enable an increased or reduced power output, the control unit 9 can adjust the fuel metering of the internal combustion engine 3 accordingly or change the load on the generator 4. The fuel heating device 13 is also controlled by the control unit 9 in such a way that the fuel in the fuel line 12 always has a temperature of at least 15° C., but particularly during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. Depending on the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine 3, an operator of the charging column 1 can adjust the temperature of the fuel to at least 30° C.; a minimum temperature of 35° C. is particularly preferred during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. The current for the resistance heater of the fuel heating device 13 is provided by the electric energy store 5.

[0056] The electric energy store 5 also starts the internal combustion engine 3 via a starter and a fuel pump which delivers the fuel into the internal combustion engine 3 at the beginning of a charging process.

[0057] The electric energy store 5 is optionally recharged by the electric energy generated by the generator 4. The electric energy generated in the charging column 1 is delivered to a motor vehicle via one or more electrical connections 10 (charging cables).

[0058] A user of the charging column 1 can use the control unit 9 to pay for the charging process. Different payment systems are possible, for example using various credit cards or using a mobile device, for example a smartphone.

[0059] The internal combustion engine 3 and generator 4, tank 6, energy store 5, fuel heating device 13, control unit 9, and the electrical connections 10 are all advantageously installed in a housing 2. The charging column 1 can therefore be operated independently, i.e., it does not require an electrical connection to an existing power grid.

[0060] The electric energy required for its operation is supplied by the rechargeable energy store 5. The dimensions of the charging column 1 are also very compact, and the fuel tank 6 usually takes up the most space. By suitably selecting the size of the tank 6, the dimensions of the charging column 1 can be kept small, but it may then be necessary to fill the tank 6 with fuel frequently. For this purpose, the control unit 9 is advantageously connected to the operator of the charging column 1 via WLAN or similar communication devices and issues a respective message when the tank 6 has to be refilled.

[0061] The method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles has five method steps: The charging process begins when a user plugs the electrical connection (charging cable) 10 into the respective socket of the motor vehicle to be charged. The control unit 9 detects this, and in the first method step 100 the fuel is supplied from the tank 6 to the internal combustion engine 3 by the fuel pump. In the second method step 200, the fuel is heated to at least 35° C. by means of the fuel heating device 13, particularly during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the fuel heating device 13 is a resistance heater whose current-carrying coils are wound around the fuel line 12 and thus heat the fuel in the fuel line 12. The internal combustion engine 3 is started by a starter. The starter, fuel pump and fuel heating device 13 are supplied with energy by the energy store 5.

[0062] In the third method step 300, the internal combustion engine 3 is operated with the heated fuel and drives the generator 4, so the chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into kinetic energy. In the fourth method step 400, the kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine 3 is converted into electric energy. In the fifth method step 500, this electric energy is delivered to the motor vehicle via the charging cable 10. The charging process ends when the user detaches the charging cable 10 from the motor vehicle or when the energy store of the motor vehicle is sufficiently charged (80% of the capacity of the energy store or more). After the charging process has ended, the internal combustion engine 3 is stopped and no more fuel is pumped to the internal combustion engine 3. The charging column 1 goes into a standby mode until the start of the next charging process.

[0063] However, the use of methanol to run a spark-ignition engine has heretofore faced a significant cold start and/or running problem not typically encountered with gasoline and diesel engines. It has been found that methanol fueled vehicle engines are difficult to start at ambient temperatures below 10° C. due to the low vapor pressure and high evaporation heat of methanol. Even if a methanol fueled engine was somehow started, the associated vehicle was found to exhibit poor drivability and/or emit high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) and uncombusted hydrocarbon emissions from the engine.

[0064] Various devices and methods have been proposed to solve these problems, including the use of fuel and carburetor heaters to aid in fuel vaporization, the use of methanol dissociation reactors to produce highly combustible gases, and the addition of volatile compounds to the methanol fuel. As for electrically heating an air/methanol fuel mixture to thereby enable cold starting at low temperatures, it has been found that the required electrical output increases dramatically.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the charging column 1 according to the invention, the fuel heating device 15 of which is a PTC auxiliary heater. The charging column 1 is operated in a stationary manner and has an internal combustion engine 3. The internal combustion engine 3 is a piston combustion engine that works according to the Otto principle (4-stroke). The internal combustion engine 3 has direct injection, in which the fuel is atomized by means of a fuel injection valve 14 in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine 3 to form an ignitable mixture with the oxygen in the air, which is spark-ignited in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine 3 by means of a spark plug, for example.

[0066] The internal combustion engine 3 is advantageously operated with a liquid energy carrier (fuel) which has a methanol and/or ethanol content of at least 75% by volume. Pure ethanol (ethanol content >95% by volume) is preferably used for operation in the charging column 1 illustrated in this exemplary embodiment.

[0067] The fuel is stored in the charging column 1 according to the invention in a tank 6 which is connected to the internal combustion engine 3 via the fuel line 12. To preheat the fuel, particularly when starting the internal combustion engine 3 and in its cold-running phase, a fuel heating device 15 is installed in the immediate vicinity of the fuel line 12. In this exemplary embodiment, the fuel heating device 15 is a PTC auxiliary heater which, due to its design, is self-regulated and therefore does not require any additional temperature sensors.

[0068] The internal combustion engine 3 drives the generator 4 by rotation. The kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine 3 is thus converted into electric energy by the generator 4, into an alternating current which has a frequency of 50 Hz. The constant frequency of the alternating current is ensured by a transmission between the internal combustion engine 3 and the generator 4. The transmission is implemented, for example, by means of a gear; driving the generator 4 by means of a toothed belt or toothed chain is simpler, more cost-effective and at the same time more robust in daily operation.

[0069] Furthermore, an electric energy store 5 (rechargeable battery) 9 and a device for transporting the liquid energy carrier 11 are installed in the charging column 1. The energy store 5 supplies the control unit 9, by means of which the charging column 1 detects and initiates the beginning or the end of a charging process. In addition, the control unit 9 controls the operation of the internal combustion engine 3 in such a way that the internal combustion engine 3 runs in a defined speed range that is kept constant. This is usually in the partial load range to ensure efficient fuel consumption. To enable an increased or reduced power output, the control unit 9 can adjust the fuel metering of the internal combustion engine 3 accordingly or change the load on the generator 4. The fuel heating device 15 is also controlled by the control unit 9 in such a way that the fuel in the fuel line 12 always has a temperature of at least 25° C., but particularly during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. Depending on the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine 3, an operator of the charging column 1 can adjust the temperature of the fuel to at least 30° C.; a minimum temperature of 35° C. is particularly preferred during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. The current for the PTC auxiliary heater of the fuel heating device 15 is provided by the electric energy store 5.

[0070] The electric energy store 5 also starts the internal combustion engine 3 via a starter and a fuel pump which delivers the fuel into the internal combustion engine 3 at the beginning of a charging process. The electric energy store 5 is optionally recharged by the electric energy generated by the generator 4. The electric energy generated in the charging column 1 is delivered to a motor vehicle via one or more electrical connections 10 (charging cables).

[0071] A user of the charging column 1 can use the control unit 9 to pay for the charging process. Different payment systems are possible, for example using various credit cards or using a mobile device, for example a smartphone.

[0072] The internal combustion engine 3 and generator 4, energy store 5, fuel heating device 15, control unit 9, as well as the electrical connections 10 are all advantageously installed in a housing 2. The tank 6 is spatially separated in this embodiment. A tank 6 can thus be available to multiple charging columns 1 and supply them with fuel. Such a configuration is particularly favorable for setting up electric charging stations that include multiple charging columns 1.

[0073] The electric energy required for its operation is supplied by the rechargeable energy store 5. The dimensions of the charging column 1 are also very compact, and the fuel tank 6 usually takes up the most space. By suitably selecting the size of the tank 6, the dimensions of the charging column 1 can be kept small, but it may then be necessary to fill the tank 6 with fuel frequently. For this purpose, the control unit 9 is advantageously connected to the operator of the charging column 1 via WLAN or similar communication devices and issues a respective message when the tank 6 has to be refilled.

[0074] The method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles has five method steps: The charging process begins when a user plugs the electrical connection (charging cable) 10 into the respective socket of the motor vehicle to be charged. The control unit 9 detects this, and in the first method step 100 the fuel is supplied from the tank 6 to the internal combustion engine 3 by the fuel pump. In the second method step 200, the fuel is heated to at least 25° C. by means of the fuel heating device 15, particularly during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. In this exemplary embodiment, the fuel heating device 15 is a PTC auxiliary heater whose ceramic encapsulation is wound around the fuel line 12 and thus heats the fuel in the fuel line 12. The internal combustion engine 3 is started by a starter. The starter, fuel pump and fuel heating device 15 are supplied with energy by the energy store 5.

[0075] In the third method step 300, the internal combustion engine 3 is operated with the heated fuel and drives the generator 4, so the chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into kinetic energy. In the fourth method step 400, the kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine 3 is converted into electric energy. In the fifth method step 500, this electric energy is delivered to the motor vehicle via the charging cable 10. The charging process ends when the user detaches the charging cable 10 from the motor vehicle or when the energy store of the motor vehicle is sufficiently charged (80% of the capacity of the energy store or more). After the charging process has ended, the internal combustion engine 3 is stopped, the fuel is no longer heated, and no more fuel is pumped to the internal combustion engine 3. The charging column 1 goes into a standby mode until the start of the next charging process.

[0076] An exemplary embodiment of the charging column 1 according to the invention without a fuel heating device 13/15 as a separate component is shown in FIG. 3. The fuel is heated by the waste heat of the internal combustion engine 3. The charging column 1 has an internal combustion engine 3. The internal combustion engine 3 is a piston combustion engine that works according to the Otto principle (4-stroke). The internal combustion engine 3 has intake manifold injection, in which the fuel is atomized by means of a fuel injection valve 14 in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine 3 to form an ignitable mixture with the oxygen in the air, which is spark-ignited in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine 3 by means of a spark plug, for example.

[0077] The internal combustion engine 3 is advantageously operated with a liquid energy carrier (fuel) which has a methanol and/or ethanol content of at least 50% by volume. A fuel mixture with an ethanol content of 85% by volume is preferably used for operation in the charging column 1 illustrated in this exemplary embodiment.

[0078] The fuel is stored in the charging column 1 according to the invention in a tank 6 which is connected to the internal combustion engine 3 via the fuel line 12. To preheat the fuel, particularly when starting the internal combustion engine 3 and in its cold-running phase, the waste heat from the internal combustion engine 3 is used in this exemplary embodiment. For this purpose, the fuel line 12 is arranged in such a way that at least in one area it runs so close to the cooling jacket of the internal combustion engine 3 that the fuel in the fuel line 12 is heated to at least 35° C. Such an arrangement of the fuel line 12 requires no additional fuel heating device 13/15.

[0079] The internal combustion engine 3 drives the generator 4 by rotation. The kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine 3 is thus converted into electric energy by the generator 4, into an alternating current which has a frequency of 50 Hz. The constant frequency of the alternating current is ensured by a transmission between the internal combustion engine 3 and the generator 4. The transmission is implemented, for example, by means of a gear; driving the generator 4 by means of a toothed belt or toothed chain is simpler, more cost-effective and at the same time more robust in daily operation.

[0080] Furthermore, an electric energy store 5 (rechargeable battery) 9 and a device for transporting the liquid energy carrier 11 are installed in the charging column 1. The energy store 5 supplies the control unit 9, by means of which the charging column 1 detects and initiates the beginning or the end of a charging process. In addition, the control unit 9 controls the operation of the internal combustion engine 3 in such a way that the internal combustion engine 3 runs in a defined speed range that is kept constant. This is usually in the partial load range to ensure efficient fuel consumption. To enable an increased or reduced power output, the control unit 9 can adjust the fuel metering of the internal combustion engine 3 accordingly or change the load on the generator 4.

[0081] The electric energy store 5 also starts the internal combustion engine 3 via a starter and a fuel pump which delivers the fuel into the internal combustion engine 3 at the beginning of a charging process. The electric energy store 5 is optionally recharged by the electric energy generated by the generator 4. The electric energy generated in the charging column 1 is delivered to a motor vehicle via one or more electrical connections 10 (charging cables). A user of the charging column 1 can use the control unit 9 to pay for the charging process. Different payment systems are possible, for example using various credit cards or using a mobile device, for example a smartphone.

[0082] The internal combustion engine 3 and generator 4, energy store 5, control unit 9, as well as the electrical connections 10 are all advantageously installed in a housing 2. In this exemplary embodiment, like in the previous one (FIG. 2), the tank 6 is spatially separated. A tank 6 can thus be available to multiple charging columns 1 and supply them with fuel. Such a configuration is particularly favorable for setting up electric charging stations that include multiple charging columns 1.

[0083] The electric energy required for its operation is supplied by the rechargeable energy store 5. The dimensions of the charging column 1 are also very compact, and the fuel tank 6 usually takes up the most space. By suitably selecting the size of the tank 6, the dimensions of the charging column 1 can be kept small, but it may then be necessary to fill the tank 6 with fuel frequently. For this purpose, the control unit 9 is advantageously connected to the operator of the charging column 1 via WLAN or similar communication devices and issues a respective message when the tank 6 has to be refilled.

[0084] The method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles has five method steps: The charging process begins with the authentication of the user at the charging column. The control unit 9 detects this, and in the first method step 100 the fuel is supplied from the tank 6 to the internal combustion engine 3 by the fuel pump. In the second method step 200, the fuel is heated to at least 35° C. by the waste heat from the internal combustion engine 3, particularly during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. The internal combustion engine 3 is started by a starter. The starter and the fuel pump are supplied with energy by the energy store 5.

[0085] In the third method step 300, the internal combustion engine 3 is operated with the heated fuel and drives the generator 4, so the chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into kinetic energy. In the fourth method step 400, the kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine 3 is converted into electric energy. In the fifth method step 500, this electric energy is delivered to the motor vehicle via the charging cable 10. The charging process ends when the user detaches the charging cable 10 from the motor vehicle or when the energy store of the motor vehicle is sufficiently charged (80% of the capacity of the energy store or more). After the charging process has ended, the internal combustion engine 3 is stopped, the fuel is no longer heated, and no more fuel is pumped to the internal combustion engine 3. The charging column 1 goes into a standby mode until the start of the next charging process.

[0086] FIG. 4 shows the method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles. The method according to the invention for generating a charging current for charging electric vehicles has five method steps: The charging process begins when a user wakes the charging column from stand-by mode with an input. The control unit 9 detects this, and in the first method step 100 the fuel (mixture with a methanol content >75% by volume) is supplied from the tank 6 to the internal combustion engine 3 by the fuel pump. In the second method step 200, the fuel is heated to at least 20° C. by means of the fuel heating device 13/15 or by the waste heat of the internal combustion engine 3, particularly during the starting process and in the cold-running phase of the internal combustion engine 3. The internal combustion engine 3 is started by a starter. The starter, fuel pump and fuel heating device 13/15 are supplied with energy by the energy store 5.

[0087] In the third method step 300, the internal combustion engine 3 is operated with the heated fuel and drives the generator 4, so the chemical energy stored in the fuel is converted into kinetic energy. In the fourth method step 400, the kinetic energy generated by the internal combustion engine 3 is converted into electric energy. In the fifth method step 500, this electric energy is delivered to the motor vehicle via the charging cable 10. The charging process ends when the user detaches the charging cable 10 from the motor vehicle or when the energy store of the motor vehicle is sufficiently charged (80% of the capacity of the energy store or more). After the charging process has ended, the internal combustion engine 3 is stopped, the fuel is no longer heated, and no more fuel is pumped to the internal combustion engine 3. The charging column 1 goes into a standby mode until the start of the next charging process.

[0088] In another exemplary embodiment, the intake air is heated using a PCT heating element before said air is mixed with the atomized fuel in the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine, thereby heating the fuel. The PTC heating element comprises a PTC ceramic which abuts a metal fin element and a fan. The fan is used to conduct the air to be heated through the metal fin element. If the PTC ceramic is connected to a current, it heats itself up and transfers this heat to the metal fin element. The metal fin element acts as a heat exchanger and transfers the heat to the air flowing through the metal fin element. The fuel atomized into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine is then heated as the air mixes with the fuel.

[0089] In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the intake air is preheated by the waste heat from the internal combustion engine of the charging column. For this purpose, the air-guiding duct is routed over a distance of 5 cm along a heat-emitting point on the internal combustion engine before it is conducted into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. There, the preheated intake air heats the fuel and forms an ignitable mixture with the fuel.

TABLE-US-00001 LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 1 charging column 2 housing 3 combustion engine 4 generator 5 energy store 6 tank 7 Shaft between VM and generator 9 control unit 10 electrical connection 12 fuel line 13 fuel heating device/resistance heater 15 fuel heating device/PTC heater 14 injection nozzle 100 supplying the liquid energy carrier 200 heating the liquid energy carrier 300 operating the internal combustion engine 400 converting the kinetic/electric energy 500 delivery of AC power to an electric vehicle