Upgrading an existing standard electric vehicle (EV) charger from grid to vehicle (V1G) to V1G plus vehicle to grid (V2G) operation

Inventors: Daniel Feldman (New York, NY); John R. DeBoer, III (Denver, CO)

Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.

G06F8/65 B60L53/00 B60L55/00 G06F21/31 G06F21/629

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12705040
App. No.: 18/068,963
Granted: Aug 11, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

A system and a method to upgrade an existing standard Electric Vehicle (EV) charger from Grid to EV (V1G) to Vehicle to Grid (V2G) in order to send power from a grid to an EV as well as from the EV to the grid. The method comprises loading the existing standard EV charger initially developed to support only V1G with a V2G compatible firmware. The method further comprises locally configuring the existing standard EV charger for V2G operation to locally enable the existing standard EV charger to allow V2G functionality after an inspection such that the existing standard EV charger supports a V2G communication interface for bi-directional charging/discharging of electric vehicles (EVs). A local configuration requires an authorization via a cloud for conversion of the existing standard EV charger from V1G to V2G.

Claims (35)

1 . A method to upgrade an existing standard AC Electric Vehicle (EV) charger from Grid to Vehicle (V1G) functionality to Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operation in order to send power from a grid to an EV as well as from the EV to the grid, the method comprising:

loading the existing standard AC EV charger, initially developed to support only V1G, with a V2G compatible firmware after an inspection; and

locally configuring the existing standard AC EV charger for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operation to locally enable the existing standard AC EV charger to allow V2G functionality after the inspection such that the existing standard AC EV charger supports a vehicle to grid (V2G) communication interface for bi-directional charging/discharging of electric vehicles (EVs), and

wherein a local configuration requires an authorization via a cloud for enabling V2G functionality after the inspection for conversion of the existing standard AC EV charger from V1G to V2G.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the existing standard AC EV charger is a Level 2 charger that contains ISO15118 standard capabilities to safely configure the existing standard AC EV charger for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operation.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein locally configuring the existing standard AC EV charger for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operation further comprises:

loading the existing standard AC EV charger with an initial setting that only allows V1G functionality.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein locally configuring the existing standard AC EV charger for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operation further comprises:

enabling V2G functionality by performing a configuration of maximum current.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein enabling the V2G functionality further comprises:

providing a user input via a user interface to put the existing standard AC EV charger in a setup mode by power cycling the existing standard AC EV charger.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein enabling the V2G functionality further comprises:

once in the setup mode, connecting the existing standard AC EV charger to a computing device that runs an installation software.

7 . The method of claim 6 , wherein enabling the V2G functionality further comprises:

providing a user input via the user interface for the installation software to login into the cloud where user rights are confirmed.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein enabling the V2G functionality further comprises:

after physically inspecting a location in which the existing standard AC EV charger is to be installed, for a user determined to have technician rights, allowing the user to change the configuration of the existing standard AC EV charger initially developed to support only V1G functionality from V1G to V2G via a user input for upgrading the existing V1G-only charger to V2G capability and to configure a maximum allowed reversed current.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein enabling the V2G functionality further comprises:

after the local configuration is performed, allowing the technician to apply a label on the existing standard AC EV charger for compliance with UL1741 standard, indicating the existing standard AC EV charger is able to export energy and at which maximum current.

10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the existing standard AC EV charger is a Level 2 charger that contains ISO15118 standard capabilities to safely configure the existing standard AC EV charger for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operation.

11 . A method to upgrade an existing standard Electric Vehicle (EV) charger to receive power from a grid as well as to send power from the EV to the grid, the method comprising:

loading the existing standard EV charger initially developed to support only a grid to an EV charging with the EV to the grid charging compatible firmware after an inspection; and

locally configuring the existing standard EV charger for the EV to the grid charging operation to locally enable the existing standard EV charger to allow the EV to the grid charging after the inspection such that the existing standard EV charger supports an EV to the grid charging communication interface for bi-directional charging/discharging of electric vehicles (EVs), and

wherein a local configuration requires either an authorization via a cloud for enabling the EV to the grid charging after the inspection or configuring via a computing device having a Bluetooth application (APP) or setting of one or more DIP switches for conversion of the existing standard EV charger from the grid to the EV as well as from the EV to the grid.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the existing standard EV charger is an AC Level 2 charger that contains ISO15118 standard capabilities to safely configure the existing standard EV charger for Vehicle to Grid (V2G) operation.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein locally configuring the existing standard EV charger further comprises:

loading the existing standard EV charger with an initial setting that only allows the grid to the EV functionality.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein locally configuring the existing standard EV charger further comprises:

enabling Vehicle to Grid (V2G) functionality by performing a configuration of maximum current.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein enabling the V2G functionality further comprises:

providing a user input via a user interface to put the existing standard EV charger in a setup mode by power cycling the existing standard EV charger;

once in the setup mode, connecting the existing standard EV charger to a computing device that runs an installation software;

providing a user input via the user interface for the installation software to login into the cloud where user rights are confirmed;

allowing the user to change the configuration of the existing standard EV charger from V1G to V2G via a user input and to configure a maximum allowed reverse current after physically inspecting a location in which the existing standard EV charger is to be installed; and

after the local configuration is performed, allowing a technician to apply a label on the existing standard EV charger for compliance with UL1741 standard, indicating the existing standard EV charger is able to export energy and at which maximum current.