Electric vehicle communication interface
A method of communicating with an electric vehicle wherein the method includes a step of installing a communication device in the electric vehicle. The method also includes establishing a connection from the vehicle to a network. The methodology also includes controlling and monitoring a battery in the electric vehicle.
1 . A method of communicating with an electric vehicle, said method including the steps of:
installing a communication device in the electric vehicle;
establishing a connection from the vehicle to a network;
communicating with a user interface via said network; and
controlling and monitoring a battery in the electric vehicle.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein said communication device is a chip using an 802.11, cellular, powerline communication, or other standard or custom protocol.
3 . The method of claim 1 wherein said user interface includes a mobile device, desktop device, email device, instant messaging device, cell phones, telephones, text messaging device or other electric/wireless device.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes determining the battery state of charge.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the vehicle notifying a user that the battery is fully charged.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the vehicle notifying a user if charging problems occurred.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring further includes the step of a user initiating heating or cooling of the vehicle or the battery to prepare for driving of the vehicle.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes a user powering on or off a charging of the battery.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes a user discharging the battery into an electricity grid.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the step of communicating from a user or the vehicle that a battery problem has occurred by thermal runaway, sensed smoke, or other failure mechanisms and devices.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein said step of controlling and monitoring includes the step of controlling a timing for charging or discharging of the battery of the vehicle by a third party.
12 . The method of claim 11 wherein said step of controlling the timing allows for charging during low power consumption periods, stopping charging during high power consumption periods and providing for a user override of charging commands from said third party.
13 . The method of claim 11 further including the step of prompting a user of the vehicle to choose a predetermined charging option when the vehicle is turned off.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein said step of prompting includes predetermined charging options of a full charge, a constant current charge up to a predetermined voltage, and a storage or 30 to 50% charge.
15 . The method of claim 11 further including the step of creating a database on a remote server of user data regarding charge cycles, miles driven per charge and other predetermined parameters.
16 . The method of claim 15 further including the step of broadcasting messages to a user via said remote server.
17 . A method of controlling a battery within an electrical vehicle by a user of the vehicle, said method of including the steps of:
installing a communication chip in the vehicle;
providing a connection between the vehicle and a network on a user interface device;
providing a connection between said network and a second network; and
providing data storage and data analysis for the vehicle via said second network.
18 . The method of claim 17 wherein said second network includes the vehicle manufacturer's server or a utility company server.
19 . The method of claim 17 wherein said connections are wireless or hardwired.
20 . The method of claim 17 wherein said connections provide for communication between the vehicle and a user of the vehicle and vice versa.
21 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of querying a battery for its state of charge in the electric vehicle.
22 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of notifying the user when the battery is fully charged.
23 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of notifying said user if a problem occurred during charging of the battery.
24 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of requesting the vehicle to initiate a heating or cooling of the vehicle or battery to prepare for driving of the vehicle.
25 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of powering on or off a charging of the battery at predetermined times and for predetermined lengths.
26 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of discharging the battery into an electric grid via a vehicle to grid application.
27 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of notifying said user that the battery has had a problem.
28 . The method of claim 20 further including the step of notifying said user the battery has self discharged below a predetermined storage level.
29 . The method of claim 28 wherein said predetermined storage level is approximately three volts.
30 . An apparatus for connecting an electric vehicle, having a battery pack for solely propelling the electrical vehicle, with a user of the vehicle, the manufacturer of the vehicle or an utility company, said apparatus including:
a communication chip located in the vehicle;
a first network in communication with said chip;
a second network in communication with said first network;
a data storage and data analysis device in communication with said second network; and
a user interface device in communication with said chip, said first network or said second network.
31 . The apparatus of claim 30 wherein said data storage and data analysis device will monitor and adjust predetermined settings and parameters of the battery pack.