Street light mounted network-controlled charge transfer device for electric vehicles
View Patent ↗A network-controlled charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle is mounted to a street light. The charge transfer device includes the following: an electrical receptacle to receive an electrical connector for connection to the electric vehicle; an electric power line that couples the power grid to the electrical receptacle through a wiring box; a control device to switch the receptacle on and off; a current measuring device to measure current flowing through the electric power line; and a controller to operate the control device and to monitor output from the current measuring device.
1. A charge transfer device for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle, comprising:
a mounting mechanism to couple the charge transfer device to a street light;
an electrical receptacle to receive an electrical connector for connection to the electric vehicle;
an electric power line coupling the local power grid to the electrical receptacle through a wiring box;
a control device on the electric power line to switch the electrical receptacle on and off;
a current measuring device on the electric power line to measure current flowing through the electric power line; and
a controller to operate the control device and monitor the output from the current measuring device.
2. The charge transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a communication device connected to the controller to connect the controller to a mobile wireless communication device for communication between an operator of the electric vehicle and the controller.
3. The charge transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further to report the amount of current flowing through the electrical receptacle on the electric power line to a utility company operating the local power grid.
4. The charge transfer device of claim 1 , wherein the current measuring device is further to measure current flowing on an electric power line coupled with the wiring box that provides electricity to a light of the street light.
5. The charge transfer device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a transceiver coupled with the controller to connect the controller to a local area network for access to a remote server via a wide area network; and
wherein the controller is to manage charge transfer based on power grid load data that is received from the remote server.
6. The charge transfer device of claim 5 , wherein charge transfer may be in either direction between the local power grid and the electric vehicle.
7. The charge transfer device of claim 5 , wherein the controller further is to manage charge transfer based on a consumer profile of an operator of the electric vehicle, wherein the consumer profile is to be received from the remote server.
8. A charge transfer system for electric vehicles, comprising:
a local power grid operated by a utility company;
a street light comprising:
a light, and
a first electric power line that couples the light with the local power grid through a wiring box; and
a charge transfer device that transfers charge between the local power grid and electric vehicles, the charge transfer device coupled with the street light, the charge transfer device comprising:
an electrical receptacle that receives electrical connectors for connection to electric vehicles,
a second electric power line that couples the electrical receptacle with the local power gird through the wiring box, and
a current measuring device that measures current flowing on the second electric power line.
9. The charge transfer system of claim 8 , wherein the first electric power line and the second electric power line are different.
10. The charge transfer system of claim 8 , wherein the first electric power line and the second electric power line are the same.
11. The charge transfer system of claim 8 , wherein the current measuring device further measures current flowing on the first electric power line.
12. The charge transfer system of claim 8 , wherein the charge transfer device further comprises:
a control device on the second electric power line to switch the electrical receptacle on and off; and
a controller to operate the control device and to monitor the output from the current measuring device.
13. The charge transfer system of claim 12 , wherein the controller further reports the amount of current flowing on the second electric power line to the utility company for accounting and billing.
14. The charge transfer system of claim 12 , further comprising:
a server that is remote to the charge transfer device;
wherein the charge transfer device further comprises:
a transceiver coupled with the controller that connects the controller to a local area network for access to the server via a wide area network; and
wherein the controller manages charge transfer based on power grid load data and consumer profiles that are received from the server.
15. A method for transferring charge between a local power grid and an electric vehicle, comprising:
receiving a request at a controller of a network-controlled charge transfer device for charge transfer, wherein the request is received from an operator of the electric vehicle;
relaying the request from the controller to a server coupled with the network-controlled charge transfer device;
receiving a communication from the server at the controller to enable charge transfer;
responsive to the receiving, the controller activating a control device to switch on an electrical receptacle of the network-controlled charge transfer device, wherein the charge transfer is provided through a first electrical power line that is coupled with a local power grid through a wiring box;
monitoring the charge transfer using a current measuring device on the first electrical power line; and
wherein the network-controlled charge transfer device is coupled with a street light.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the request is received from a mobile wireless communication device of an operator of the electric vehicle.
17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
reporting the amount of current flowing through the first electrical power line to a utility company operating the local power grid.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the street light includes a light coupled with a second electrical power line that is coupled with the local power grid through the wiring box.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising monitoring current flowing through the second electrical power line.
20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:
reporting the amount of current flowing through the second electrical power line to a utility company operating the local power grid.