Granted Patent B2

US 12,277,810 · App. 17/887,769 · Granted Apr 15, 2025

Inventors: Norman Lu (Fairview, TX); Maximilian Parness (Takoma Park, MD)

Assignees: TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.; TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

G07C5/008G06Q30/0207G07C5/0808

Abstract

Claims (75)

1. A method, comprising:

determining a usage of an internal combustible engine (ICE) vehicle and a usage of an electric vehicle over a period of time, wherein the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle are associated with an entity;

determining an impact of carbon output based on the usage of the ICE vehicle and the usage of the electric vehicle;

determining a usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact, when the impact is greater than a first threshold; and

sending a notification to a device associated with the entity, wherein the notification includes the amount of usage of the electric vehicle.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the usage of the ICE vehicle and the usage of the electric vehicle over the period of time comprises:

obtaining a time and a distance traveled for the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle at a start and end of the period of time; and

determining the usage as a difference over the period of time of one or more of the time and distance traveled for the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the impact of carbon output comprises:

determining a difference in usage between the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle;

performing a comparison of the difference to a second threshold; and

determining an impact of carbon output based on the comparison.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining the usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact comprises:

determining a carbon output of the electric vehicle based on one of time or distance traveled; and

dividing the impact by the carbon output of the electric vehicle to obtain the usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein sending the notification to the device associated with the entity comprises:

transmitting the notification to a device requesting use of the electric vehicle; and

determining if the electric vehicle was used.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining the usage of the electric vehicle is greater than a third threshold and the ICE vehicle has not been used for the period of time; and

applying a credit to the entity.

7. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

determining an upcoming trip with planned usage by the ICE vehicle;

determining an expected carbon output by the ICE vehicle for the upcoming trip;

determining a usage amount by the electric vehicle corresponding to the expected carbon output; and

determining if the electric vehicle used the usage amount.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, comprising instructions that when executed by the processor are configured to:

determine a usage of an internal combustible engine (ICE) vehicle and a usage of an electric vehicle over a period of time, wherein the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle are associated with an entity;

determine an impact of carbon output based on the usage of the ICE vehicle and the usage of the electric vehicle;

determine a usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact, when the impact is greater than a first threshold; and

send a notification to a device associated with the entity, wherein the notification includes the amount of usage of the electric vehicle.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

obtain a time and a distance traveled for the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle at a start and end of the period of time; and

determine the usage as a difference over the period of time of one or more of the time and distance traveled for the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a difference in usage between the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle;

perform a comparison of the difference to a second threshold; and

determine an impact of carbon output based on the comparison.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a carbon output of the electric vehicle based on one of time or distance traveled; and

divide the impact by the carbon output of the electric vehicle to obtain the usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to:

transmit the notification to a device that requests use of the electric vehicle; and

determine if the electric vehicle was used.

13. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine the usage of the electric vehicle is greater than a third threshold and the ICE vehicle has not been used for the period of time; and

apply a credit to the entity.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a future trip with planned usage by the ICE vehicle;

determine an expected carbon output by the ICE vehicle for the future trip;

determine a usage amount by the electric vehicle that corresponds to the expected carbon output; and

determine if the electric vehicle used the usage amount.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions, that when read by a processor, cause the processor to perform:

determining a usage of an internal combustible engine (ICE) vehicle and a usage of an electric vehicle over a period of time, wherein the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle are associated with an entity;

determining an impact of carbon output based on the usage of the ICE vehicle and the usage of the electric vehicle;

determining a usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact, when the impact is greater than a first threshold; and

sending a notification to a device associated with the entity, wherein the notification includes the amount of usage of the electric vehicle.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the usage of the ICE vehicle and the usage of the electric vehicle over the period of time comprises:

obtaining a time and a distance traveled for the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle at a start and end of the period of time; and

determining the usage as a difference over the period of time of one or more of the time and distance traveled for the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the impact of carbon output based on the usage determination comprises:

determining a difference in usage between the ICE vehicle and the electric vehicle;

performing a comparison of the difference to a second threshold; and

determining an impact of carbon output based on the comparison.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein determining the usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact comprises:

determining a carbon output of the electric vehicle based on one of time or distance traveled; and

dividing the impact by the carbon output of the electric vehicle to obtain the usage amount of the electric vehicle to offset the impact.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein sending the notification to the device associated with the entity comprises:

transmitting the notification to a device requesting use of the electric vehicle; and

determining if the electric vehicle was used.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the instructions cause the processor to further perform:

determining the usage of the electric vehicle is greater than a third threshold and the ICE vehicle has not been used for the period of time; and

applying a credit to the entity.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (20)