Charger for charging electric vehicles

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a charger for charging electric vehicles. In one embodiment, the charger includes M AC/DC converters, a DC bus, N DC/DC converters, and D energy exchange ports. The M AC/DC converters are configured to be coupled to a power source at an input side of the M AC/DC converters. The DC bus is connected to an output side of each of the M AC/DC converters. The N DC/DC converters are coupled to the DC bus at an input side of the N DC/DC converters. The D energy exchange ports are coupled to an output side of one or more of the N DC/DC converters at an input side of the D energy exchange ports, and each of the D energy exchange ports is configured to be coupled to an electric vehicle, where N>M, and where an energy storage is coupled to the DC bus.

Claims

1. A charger for charging electric vehicles, comprising: M AC/DC converters configured to be coupled to a power source at an input side of the M AC/DC converters; a DC bus connected to an output side of each of the M AC/DC converters; N DC/DC converters coupled to the DC bus at an input side of the N DC/DC converters; and D energy exchange ports coupled to an output side of one or more of the N DC/DC converters at an input side of the D energy exchange ports, each of the D energy exchange ports configured to be coupled to an electric vehicle, wherein N>M, and wherein an energy storage is coupled to the DC bus.

2. The charger according to claim 1, wherein the M AC/DC converters and the N DC/DC converters are arranged within a cabinet having a cabinet controller, wherein the cabinet controller is configured for collecting data from each of the M AC/DC converters and the N DC/DC converters and for distributing power over the N DC/DC converters.

3. The charger according to claim 1, further comprising a switch matrix arranged between the N DC/DC converters and the D energy exchange ports and configured for coupling one or more of the N DC/DC converters to one or more of the D energy exchange ports .

4. The charger according to claim 1, wherein the charger is configured to connect to a site controller.

5. The charger according to claim 1, further comprising a switch matrix arranged between the M AC/DC converters and the N DC/DC converters, wherein the switch matrix is configured for selectively connecting outputs of the M AC/DC converters to the N DC/DC converters.

6. The charger according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage is a battery configured for storing electric energy.

7. The charger according to claim 1, further comprising one or more solar panels operatively connected to the DC bus.

8. A charger assembly for charging electric vehicles, wherein the charger assembly comprises multiple chargers, and wherein each of the multiple chargers comprises: M AC/DC converters configured to be coupled to a power source at an input side of the M AC/DC converters; a DC bus connected to an output side of each of the M AC/DC converters; N DC/DC converters coupled to the DC bus at an input side of the N DC/DC converters; and D energy exchange ports coupled to an output side of one or more of the N DC/DC converters at an input side of the D energy exchange ports, each of the D energy exchange ports configured to be coupled to an electric vehicle, wherein N>M, wherein the multiple chargers are interconnected to each other the DC bus, and wherein one or more energy storages are connected to the DC bus.

9. The charger assembly according to claim 8, wherein the M AC/DC converters and the N DC/DC converters of each charger are arranged within a cabinet having a cabinet controller, and wherein the cabinet controller is configured for collecting data from each of the M AC/DC converters and the N DC/DC converters and for distributing power over the N DC/DC converters.

10. The charger assembly according to claim 9, wherein the cabinet controller of each charger is in data communication with a site controller.

11. The charger assembly according to claim 8, wherein the one or more energy storages connected to the DC bus include at least one battery storage.

12. The charger assembly according to claim 8, wherein one or more solar panels are connected to the DC bus .

13. The charger according to claim 2, wherein the cabinet controller of the charger is configured to connect to a site controller.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0035] The present disclosure will be elucidated on the basis of an exemplary embodiment shown in the attached drawings, in which:

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a charger assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] A schematic diagram of a charger assembly 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. The charger assembly 1 may be used for charging one or more electric vehicles which may be connected to the charger assembly 1.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 1, the charger assembly 1 is provided with M AC/DC converters 2 configured for converting an alternating current to a direct current. Each of the M AC/DC converters 2 is electrically connected to an AC source 3, schematically indicated with the line 3, at an input side thereof, such that the AD/DC converters 2 may receive an alternating current from the AC source 3. At the output side, each of the AC/DC converters 2 is electrically connected to a DC bus 4, such that the direct current exiting the AC/DC converters may be transferred to the DC bus 4.

[0039] The charger assembly 1 is further provided with N DC/DC converters 5, each configured for converting a direct current to another direct current, for example with a higher/lower voltage. Each of the N DC/DC converters 5 is electrically connected to the DC bus 4 at the input side thereof, such that each of the DC/DC converters 5 may receive a direct current from the DC bus 4. As shown in FIG. 1, N>M, i.e. the number of DC/DC converters 5 is larger than the number of AC/DC converters 2. By having a lower number of AC/DC converters 2 than DC/DC converters 5, the charger assembly 1 is prevented from drawing large amounts of electric energy from the energy source 3, such as the power grid. The charger assembly 1 according to this embodiment is intended to operate optimally during non-peak use of the charger assembly 1, as a result of which charging of electric vehicles during peak use of the charger assembly 1 may take a bit longer.

[0040] At the output side, each of the DC/DC converters 5 is electrically connected to a switch matrix 6, in particular an input side of the switch matrix 6. At the output side, a number of exchange ports 7 is provided, which exchange ports 7 are electrically connected to the switch matrix 6. The exchange ports 7 are configured for establishing an electric connection between one or more non-shown electric vehicles and the charger assembly 1. The switch matrix 6 is configured for switching one or more outputs of the DC/DC converters 5 to one or more exchange ports 7, such that, for example, one DC/DC converter 5 may be connected to two electric vehicles or two DC/DC converters 5 may be connected to a single electric vehicle. The switch matrix 6 is intended for efficient use of each of the DC/DC converters 5.

[0041] Furthermore, the charger assembly 1 is provided with an energy storage 8, such as a battery, which is connected to the DC bus 4. The energy storage 8 is configured for peak use, such that when the demand for electric energy at the exchange ports 7 is higher than the input of electric energy at the input side of the AC/DC converters 2, additional electric energy may be provided to the DC/DC converters 5 by means of the energy storage 8, via the DC bus 4.

[0042] As shown in FIG. 1, the AC/DC converters 2 and the DC/DC converters are arranged within and divided over multiple charger cabinets 9, wherein each charger cabinet 9 represents a charger 10 for charging, for example, electric vehicles. The chargers 10 are interconnected by means of the DC bus 4. Each charger 10 is provided with a cabinet controller 11, which is operatively connected to the AC/DC converters and the DC/DC converters 5 arranged within the respective charger cabinet 9 and, optionally, to the switch matrix 6 of the charger cabinet 9. Each cabinet controller 11 is configured for collecting data of each of the AC/DC converters 2 and the DC/DC converters 5, for example the amount of electric energy supplied by the AC/DC converters 5 and the amount of electric energy requested at the DC/DC converters 5, and for distributing power over the DC/DC converters 5 depending on the collected data.

[0043] The charger assembly 1 is further provided with a site controller 12 which is operatively connected to each of the charger cabinets 9 of the chargers 10, in particular to the cabinet controller 11 thereof. The cabinet controllers 11 transmit the collected data to the site controller 12, therewith enabling the site controller 12 to control each of the chargers 10 in order to optimize cooperation between the chargers 10 and/or to optimize a power flow between the chargers 10 and/or the power grid to which the chargers 10 are connected.

[0044] Although not shown, the charger assembly 1 may be provided with a number of solar panels which may be coupled to the DC bus 4. The solar panels may be used for charging the energy storage 8 during the day, such that less electric energy has to be extracted from the power grid.

[0045] It is to be understood that the above description is included to illustrate the operation of embodiments of the present disclosure and is not meant to limit the scope of the present disclosure. From the above discussion, many variations will be apparent to one skilled in the art that would yet be encompassed by the scope of the present disclosure.