IP Library Patent Application 17709070
Patent Application
App. No. 17/709,070

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ALLOCATION OF CHARGING RATES BASED ON VEHICLE CHARACTERISTICS

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
17/709,070
Abstract

Systems and methods are provided herein for administering services (e.g., charging rates, charging costs, user experiences, etc.) to an electric vehicle based on a characteristic of the electric vehicle. This may be accomplished by an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) charging an electric vehicle and using one or more sensors to capture information about the electric vehicle. The EVCS can using the captured information to determine a characteristic of the electric vehicle. The EVCS can then use the determined characteristic of the electric vehicle to administer a service. For example, an EVCS may capture an image of an electric vehicle and use image recognition to determine the model (i.e., vehicle characteristic) of the electric vehicle. The EVCS can then charge the electric vehicle using a first charging rate (i.e., service) based on the model of the electric vehicle.

Claims (42)

1 . An electric vehicle charging station comprising:

a housing unit;

a connector, coupled to the housing unit, for delivering an electrical charge to an electric vehicle; and

a processor located inside the housing unit, the processor configured to:

receive a first set of images comprising the electric vehicle;

determine a characteristic of the electric vehicle using the first set of images; and

charge the electric vehicle with the connector using a first charging rate, wherein the first charging rate is based on the determined characteristic.

2 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine a second characteristic of the electric vehicle using the first set of images, wherein the first charging rate is based on the determined characteristic and the second characteristic.

3 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , further comprising a display coupled to the housing unit, wherein the processor is further configured to display a media item based on the determined characteristic on the display coupled to the housing unit.

4 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic corresponds to a model of the electric vehicle.

5 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic corresponds to an amount of charge stored in a battery of the electric vehicle.

6 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , further comprising a first sensor coupled to the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the first set of images are received using the first sensor.

7 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the first charging rate corresponds to a first amount of current during a first time period.

8 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the first charging rate corresponds to a first amount of current during a first time period and a second amount of current during a second time period.

9 . The electric vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

receive a second set of images comprising a second electric vehicle;

determine a second characteristic of the second electric vehicle using the second set of images; and

charge the second electric vehicle using a second charging rate, wherein the second charging rate is based on the second characteristic.

10 . A method comprising:

receiving, by an electric vehicle charging station, a first set of images comprising an electric vehicle;

determining, by the electric vehicle charging station, a characteristic of the electric vehicle using the first set of images; and

charging, by the electric vehicle charging station, the electric vehicle using a first charging rate, wherein the first charging rate is based on the determined characteristic.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the characteristic corresponds to a model of the electric vehicle.

12 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising displaying a media item based on the determined characteristic on a display coupled to the electric vehicle charging station.

13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the characteristic corresponds to an amount of charge stored in a battery of the electric vehicle.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the electric vehicle charging station comprises a first sensor and the first set of images are received using the first sensor.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the first charging rate corresponds to a first amount of current during a first time period.

16 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

receiving, by the electric vehicle charging station, a second set of images comprising a second electric vehicle;

determining, by the electric vehicle charging station, a second characteristic of the second electric vehicle using the second set of images; and

charging, by the electric vehicle charging station, the second electric vehicle using a second charging rate, wherein the second charging rate is based on the second characteristic.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon that when executed by control circuitry causes the control circuitry to:

receive a first set of images comprising an electric vehicle;

determine a characteristic of the electric vehicle using the first set of images; and

charge the electric vehicle using a first charging rate, wherein the first charging rate is based on the determined characteristic.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry is further caused to:

receive a second set of images comprising a second electric vehicle;

determine a second characteristic of the second electric vehicle using the second set of images; and

charge the second electric vehicle using a second charging rate, wherein the second charging rate is based on the second characteristic.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the first charging rate corresponds to a first amount of current during a first time period and the second charging rate corresponds to a second amount of current during a second time period.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the control circuitry is further caused to display a media item based on the determined characteristic on a display coupled to the electric vehicle charging station.

21 .- 59 . (canceled)

Assignments (6)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 5, 2025
From: VOLTA CHARGING INDUSTRIES, LLC,
To: ZECO SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 072345/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC D/B/A SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US
To: VOLTA INC.; VOLTA CHARGING, LLC; VOLTA MEDIA LLC; VOLTA CHARGING SERVICES LLC; VOLTA CHARGING INDUSTRIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 063239/0742 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2023
From: EICF AGENT LLC AS AGENT
To: VOLTA CHARGING LLC
Reel/Frame 063239/0812 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 3, 2023
From: VOLTA INC.; VOLTA CHARGING, LLC; VOLTA MEDIA LLC; VOLTA CHARGING SERVICES LLC; VOLTA CHARGING INDUSTRIES, LLC
To: EQUILON ENTERPRISES LLC D/B/A SHELL OIL PRODUCTS US
Reel/Frame 062739/0662 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 5, 2022
From: VOLTA CHARGING, LLC
To: EICF AGENT LLC
Reel/Frame 061606/0053 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 30, 2022
From: MEYER, RAMSEY; CRIST, BRADFORD; KINSEY, JEFFREY
To: VOLTA CHARGING, LLC
Reel/Frame 059448/0735 →