Charger for a battery, plurality of coupled chargers and method of operating

1. Network of chargers for electric vehicles, each charger comprising:

a 1st power connection, for exchanging power with a power source;

a power converter for converting power from the power source to a charge current suitable value for charging electric vehicles;

at least one 2nd power connection for exchanging power with a vehicle; and

at least one 3rd power connection for exchanging power with another charger;

the charger being configured for routing power to the at least one 2nd power connection when a vehicle is to be charged from the power source, and/or to the at least one 3rd power connection when power is to be delivered to another charger and/or to route power from the at least one 3rd power connection to the 2nd power connection when power from another charger coupled to the 3rd power connection is to be delivered to the vehicle,

wherein:

the chargers, when coupled to a power source, being a grid connection, together form a charging node system by being mutually interconnected via their at least one 3rd power connections, and wherein:

at least one of the chargers comprises a controllable power switch coupled to at least two of: the power converter, the at least one 2nd power connection and the at least one 3rd connection; and

a controller is provided for routing power by controlling the switch, and is configured during operation to perform at least one of:

connect the power converter to the at least one 2nd power connection when a vehicle is to be charged from the power source;

connect the power converter to the at least one 3rd power connection when power is to be delivered to another charger; and

connect the at least one 3rd power connection to the at least one 2nd power connection when power from another charger is to be delivered to the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured during operation to route power based on information obtained from a vehicle with a battery to be charged.

2. Network of chargers according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one 3rd power connection of each charger has a common connection, thus forming a power bus.

3. Network of chargers according to claim 1 , wherein the power converter is coupled directly to at least one of the power connections or the power switch.

4. Network of chargers according to claim 1 , wherein the controller, during operation, will be configured to route power from the 1st power connection to the at least one 2nd power connection, to enable charging batteries of vehicles with on-board chargers directly from the power source.

5. Network of chargers according to claim 1 , wherein the power converter is further coupled to the controller for controlling output power and form.

6. Network of chargers according to claim 5 , wherein the controller for controlling the switch and for controlling the power converter is an integrated controller.

7. Network of chargers according to claim 1 , comprising: means for remote communication, to be controlled or provided with data regarding power requirements from a central control centre.

8. Network of chargers according to claim 1 , wherein each charger is coupled to a power source and together the network of chargers form a modular charging node system by being mutually interconnected via their at least one 3rd power connections.

9. Network of chargers according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one 3rd power connections of the chargers have a common connection, thus forming a power bus.

10. Network of chargers for electric vehicles, each charger comprising:

a 1st power connection for exchanging power with a power source;

a power converter for converting power from the power source to a charge current suitable value for charging electric vehicles;

at least one 2nd power connection for exchanging power with a vehicle; and

at least one 3rd power connection for exchanging power with another charger;

wherein:

the chargers, when coupled to a power source, being a grid connection, together form a modular charging node system by being mutually interconnected by via their at least one 3rd power connections, wherein:

each charger has at least two 3rd power connections, and the modular charging node system is coupled ring-wise,

and wherein each charger comprises:

a controllable power switch, coupled to at least two of: the power converter, the at least one 2nd power connection and the at least one 3rd connection; and

a controller for routing power by controlling the switch, the controller being configured during operation to perform at least one of:

connect the power converter to the at least one 2nd power connection when a vehicle is to be charged from the power source;

connect the power converter to the at least one 3rd power connection when power is to be delivered to another charger; and

connect the at least one 3rd power connection to the 2nd power connection when power from another charger is to be delivered to the vehicle, wherein the controller is configured during operation to route power based on information obtained from a vehicle with a battery to be charged.

11. Network of chargers according to claim 10 , wherein each charger comprises:

a plurality of 3rd power connections, and the modular charging node system is formed by mutually connecting the at least one 3rd power connections of multiple chargers.

12. Network of chargers according to claim 10 , wherein the power converter is coupled directly to at least one of the power connections or the power switch.

13. Method for operating a plurality chargers for batteries of electric vehicles, the chargers being interconnected as a network of chargers for electric vehicles, each charger comprising:

a 1st power connection for exchanging power with a power source;

a power converter for converting power from the power source to a charge current suitable value for charging electric vehicles;

at least one 2nd power connection for exchanging power with a vehicle; and

at least one 3rd power connection for exchanging power with another charger;

the charger being configured for routing power to the at least one 2nd power connection when a vehicle is to be charged from the power source, and/or to the at least one 3rd power connection when power is to be delivered to another charger and/or to route power from the at least one 3rd power connection to the 2nd power connection when power from another charger coupled to the 3rd power connection is to be delivered to the vehicle,

wherein:

the chargers, when coupled to a power source, being a grid connection, together form a charging node system by being mutually interconnected via their at least one 3rd power connections, and wherein:

at least one of the chargers comprises a controllable power switch coupled to at least two of: the power converter, the at least one 2nd power connection and the at least one 3rd connection; and

a controller is provided for routing power by controlling the switch, and is programmed to perform, the method comprising:

connecting the power converter to the 2nd power connection when a vehicle is to be charged from the power source;

connecting the power converter to the at least one 3rd power connection when power is to be delivered to another charger; and

connecting the at least one 3rd power connection to the 2nd power connection when power from another charger is to be delivered to the vehicle.

14. Method according to claim 13 , comprising:

conducting at least a multiple of the power convertible by one power converter through a 2nd power connection to a vehicle to be charged.