Mobile vehicle charging

Abstract

A mobile system for charging battery-powered vehicles 10 includes an adapter 16 and a vehicle-mounted mobile power source 22. The adapter has a first socket which allows the battery-powered vehicle 10

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to a method and apparatus for charging of battery powered vehicles. BACKGROUND

[0002] Electrically powered vehicles are becoming more common as a way for vehicle owners to reduce their use of fossil fuels. However, difficulties with charging battery powered vehicles may limit applicability of those vehicles in some contexts.

[0003] For example, some users have found that the configuration of power supplies in many older buildings may complicate installation of an electric vehicle, EV, charging point. Furthermore, many properties may lack off-road space near the property for parking a vehicle, such as flats or small terraced housing which means it may not be practical at all to install a home charging point.

[0004] Alternatively, EV owners may charge their vehicles at a charging station. The number of charging stations available continues to grow, however this growth has so far failed to keep up with the increase in EVs on the road. When using a charging station to charge an EV, owners must be careful not to overstay at the charging station beyond the time taken to charge, or face fines for overstaying, requiring a user to attend to their vehicle. Furthermore, EV owners have encountered problems when arriving at a charging station to discover units out of order or long queues of vehicles waiting to make use of the charging station.

[0005] Mobile charging solutions have been developed, for example for use by vehicle breakdown services to allow charging of a stranded EV that has run out of electrical charge. Such mobile solutions allow charging of an EV while the owner is in attendance, but are only used in exceptional, or emergency, situations. BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF DRAWINGS

[0006] Various features of the present disclosure will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate features of the present disclosure, and wherein: Figure 1 illustrates an EV 10 that has been prepared for charging by a mobile power source according to described examples; Figure 2 illustrates a mobile charging system coupled to the EV of Figure 1 according to described examples; and Figure 3 illustrates a method of charging an EV 10 using a mobile charging service according to described examples. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0007] In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details of certain examples are set forth. Reference in the specification to "an example" or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the example is included in at least that one example, but not necessarily in other examples.

[0008] Certain examples described herein methods and devices that allow charging an unattended battery powered vehicle using a mobile, vehicle mounted, power source. According to some examples, an adapter may be provided to a user of an EV to allow connection to the mobile power source without further intervention from the user. A EV to be charged may be parked with the adapter plugged into a charging port of the EV. Typically, locking the EV will also lock in place any cable, or adapter, attached to the charging port of the EV, ensuring the security of the adapter while the vehicle is unattended. Once parked with the adapter in place, the EV owner may then leave the vehicle and does not need to return to the vehicle either to initiate charging or once charging is complete.

[0009] In order to charge the EV, an electrical connection can be made between the mobile power source and the adapter, as will be described in more detail below. The EV may then be charged to a predetermined charge level, before disconnecting the mobile power source from the adapter. The mobile power source can then be moved to charge further EVs as required.

[0010] Later on, the owner may return to the EV, for example at the end of the work day. Upon unlocking the EV, the adapter may be unplugged from the charging port and stowed for use on another occasion.

[0011] Thus, examples provide a convenient way of providing a mobile charging service for EVs that allows for an EV to be charged in any location where it can be legally parked, without requiring the owner to attend the vehicle during charging, and without risking fines for overstaying at a dedicated charging station.

[0012] Figure 1 illustrates an EV 10 that has been prepared for charging by a mobile power source according to described examples. The EV 10 may be any commercially available battery powered vehicle and includes a battery 12 and charging port 14. The charging port 14 may comprise any of the standard charging port formats such as Combined Charging System (CCS), CHAdeMO, Type 1, Type 2, etc.

[0013] According to the described examples, an EV owner is provided with an adapter 16. The adapter 16 includes a first socket having a format that matches the charging port 14 of the EV 10, for example CCS. To allow charging of the EV using a mobile power source, the EV owner attaches the adapter 16 to the charging port 14 and then locks the EV. In order to prevent tampering or theft, EVs typically lock a charging cable in place when the vehicle is locked, and therefore locking EV 10 will lock the adapter 16 to the EV 10, allowing the owner to leave the vehicle unattended with the adapter 16 attached.

[0014] The adapter 16 further includes a second socket to allow connection of the mobile power source according to the described examples. The second socket may similarly comprise one of the well known EV charging port formats, or may be a some other format dedicated to the mobile charging system.

[0015] Subsequently, an operator of a mobile charging service may attend to the EV 10 with a mobile charging system. Figure 2 illustrates a mobile charging system coupled to EV 10 according to described examples. The mobile charging system comprises a mobile power source 22 mounted in a vehicle 20.

[0016] The power source may be any suitable source of electrical power, for example a battery or fossil fuel generator. Preferably, the power source 22 comprises a hydrogen fuel cell. Vehicle 20 may further include one or more fuel tanks or reservoirs to store the fuel, such as hydrogen, used to operate the power source 22. The power source may have an output in excess of 100KW to provide high speed charging of EV 10.

[0017] Vehicle 20 further includes connection means, which may comprise connector 24 and cable 26.

[0018] Cable 26 may be wired directly at a first end to connector 24 or a suitable plug / socket arrangement may be provided. A second end of cable 26 is provided with a plug corresponding to the second socket of the adapter 16.

[0019] To charge the vehicle, the mobile power source is electrically coupled to the charging port 14 of the EV 10 via the pre-connected adapter 16. As such, connection the mobile power source 22 to the EV 10 may be performed without any further intervention by the owner of the vehicle and while the vehicle remains locked and secure.

[0020] The mobile power source 22 is operated to provide power to the EV 10 until an appropriate level of charge is reached in battery 12, for example 80% or fully charged. The operator may then disconnect cable 26 from adapter 16, leaving the adapter 16 in locked in place attached to EV 10.

[0021] Later the owner of the EV 10 may return to the car, and upon unlocking the vehicle may remove the adapter 16 from the charge port 14, storing the adapter 16 in the car until a subsequent occasion.

[0022] In some examples, a controller may be provided coupled to connector 24 for controlling the delivery of electrical power to the EV 10 during charging. The controller may communicate with the charging system of EV 10 over cable 26 using one of the known standards to control charging of the vehicle. In some examples, monitoring means may be provided coupled to connector 24 to monitor an amount of electrical energy being provided to the EV 10 during charging.

[0023] Figure 3 illustrates a method of charging an EV 10 using a mobile charging service. The method 30 comprises connecting 32 a first socket of an adapter 16 to a charging port 14 of EV 10, for example by an owner of the vehicle, and locking the EV 10 to securely lock the adapter 16 in place. Subsequently, mobile power source 34 mounted in a vehicle 20 is driven to the location of the EV 10 and the mobile power source 22 is electrically coupled to the EV 10 by connecting 34 a cable 26 to a second socket of the adapter 16. The power source 22 can then be operated 36 to provide power to the EV 10 to charge the battery 12 of the EV 10 to a desired level. Once the battery 12 has been charged to the desired level, the power source 22 can be disconnected 38 form the adapter 16 and the vehicle 20 including the mobile power source 22 may be driven on to a next vehicle requiring charging.

[0024] During charging, the amount of electrical energy delivered to the EV 10 from the power source 22 may be monitored and controlled as required.

[0025] Upon the owner returning to the EV 10, the vehicle will have been charged. The owner may then unlock EV 10 and remove the adapter 16 from the charging port 14, storing the adapter 16 within the car for a subsequent use.

[0026] All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be combined in any combination, except combinations where some of such features are mutually exclusive. Each feature disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings), may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

[0027] The present teachings are not restricted to the details of any foregoing examples. Any novel combination of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract, and drawings) may be envisaged. The claims should not be construed to cover merely the foregoing examples, but also any variants which fall within the scope of the claims. The following section of the description relates to further examples. The numbered paragraphs in this section are not claims. The claims are set forth below in the later section headed “claims”. Clause 1. A mobile system for charging a battery powered vehicle, the system comprising: an adapter having a first socket lockably connectable to a charging port of a battery powered vehicle and a second socket, wherein the first socket is electrically coupled to the second socket; a vehicle mounted power source for providing electrical power; and connection means for electrically coupling the power source to the second socket. Clause 2. The mobile system of clause 1, wherein the power source comprises a hydrogen fuel cell. Clause 3. The mobile system of clause 1 or clause 2, wherein the power source has an output of 100KW or more. Clause 4. The mobile system of any preceding clause, wherein the connection means comprises a cable having a first end electrically coupled to the power source and a second end adapted to connect to the second socket. Clause 5. The mobile system of any preceding clause, wherein the connection means comprises a controller for controlling the delivery of electrical power to a battery powered vehicle. Clause 6. The mobile system of any preceding clause, wherein the connection means further comprises monitoring means for monitoring an amount of electrical energy provided to a battery powered vehicle. Clause 7. A method of charging a battery powered vehicle, the method comprising: connecting an adapter to a charging port of the battery powered vehicle, the adapter comprising a first socket lockably connectable to the charging port of the battery powered vehicle and a second socket, wherein the first socket is electrically coupled to the second socket; providing a vehicle mounted power source and electrically coupling the power source to the second socket; operating the power source to provide electrical power to the battery powered vehicle via the adapter; and in response to the battery powered vehicle reaching a predetermined charge level, disconnecting the power source from the adapter. Clause 8. The method of clause 7, wherein connecting the adapter to the charging port of ther battery powered vehicle further comprises locking the adapter to the charging port of the battery powered vehicle prior to coupling the power source to the second socket. Clause 9. The method of clause 8, wherein locking the adapter to the charging port of the battery powered vehicle further comprises leaving the battery powered vehicle unattended for a period of time. Clause 10. The method of any of clauses 7 to 9, wherein the power source comprises a hydrogen fuel cell. Clause 11. The method of any of clauses 7 to 10, wherein electrically coupling the power source to the second socket comprises: providing a cable having a first end electrically coupled to the power source and a second end adapted to connect to the second socket; and coupling the second end of the cable to the second socket. Clause 12. The method of any of clauses 7 to 11, further comprising monitoring an amount of electrical energy provided to the battery powered vehicle. Clause 13. An adapter for coupling a mobile power source to a battery powered vehicle, the adapter comprising: a first socket lockably connectable to a charging port of a battery powered vehicle; and a second socket configured to electrically couple to a connection means of a mobile power source; and wherein the first socket is electrically coupled to the second socket. Clause 14. The adapter of clause 13, the adapter configured to receive electrical power from a mobile power source via the second socket and to provide the electrical power for charging a battery powered vehicle via the first socket.

Claims

1. A mobile system for charging a battery powered vehicle, the system comprising:an adapter having a first socket lockably connectable to a charging port of a battery powered vehicle and a second socket, wherein the first socket is electrically coupled to the second socket;a vehicle mounted power source for providing electrical power; andconnection means for electrically coupling the power source to the second socket;wherein the adapter is configured to be locked to the charging port while the vehicle is unattended for a period of time prior to coupling of the power source to the second socket.

2. The mobile system of claim 1, wherein the power source comprises a hydrogen fuel cell.

3. The mobile system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the power source has an output oflOOKWor more.

4. The mobile system of any preceding claim, wherein the connection means comprises a cable having a first end electrically coupled to the power source and a second end adapted to connect to the second socket.

5. The mobile system of any preceding claim, wherein the connection means comprises a controller for controlling the delivery of electrical power to a battery powered vehicle.

6. The mobile system of any preceding claim, wherein the connection means further comprises monitoring means for monitoring an amount of electrical energy provided to a battery powered vehicle.

7. An adapter for coupling a mobile power source to a battery powered vehicle, the adapter comprising:a first socket lockably connectable to a charging port of a battery powered vehicle; anda second socket configured to electrically couple to a connection means of a mobile power source;wherein the first socket is electrically coupled to the second socket; andwherein the adapter is configured to be locked to the charging port while the vehicle is unattended for a period of time prior to coupling of the power source to the second socket.

8. The adapter of claim 7, the adapter configured to receive electrical power from a mobile power source via the second socket and to provide the electrical power for charging a battery powered vehicle via the first socket.

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