EV Charging Contract Validation for Cross-Network Cardless Payment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging systems face challenges due to incompatible payment systems across different charging stations, requiring cumbersome registration processes and raising data privacy concerns when consumers need to provide payment information to multiple charge point operators.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that enables contract-based transactions by generating a contract bound to a digital card identifier, validating it through a server system, and provisioning it to the electric vehicle for card-not-present transactions during charging sessions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different charging stations use different payment systems, then each charging station can operate independently with its own payment methods, but consumers face compatibility issues and must perform cumbersome registration processes at each station
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal payment interface that allows a single payment method to work across multiple different charging stations. The system uses standardized communication protocols and a common authentication mechanism that is recognized by various charging networks, enabling consumers to charge at different stations without needing separate payment systems or registration processes for each station.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary payment processing layer that mediates between the consumer's payment method and the charging station's billing system. This intermediary handles the translation and communication between different payment systems, allowing consumers to use a single payment method while the intermediary manages the compatibility with various charging station payment interfaces.
2Productivity
If consumers provide payment information to multiple charge point operators, then charging transactions can be completed at different stations, but data privacy concerns arise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and separates sensitive payment information from the charging transaction process. Instead of sharing actual payment card details with multiple charging stations, the system uses tokenized payment methods where only necessary transaction data is transmitted. The sensitive payment information is held securely by a central payment processor, reducing the exposure of personal data across multiple charging operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses digital copies or tokens of payment information rather than the actual sensitive data. A tokenized version of the payment method is created that can be transmitted to charging stations for authentication, while the real payment information remains protected in a secure vault. This copying approach enables transactions without exposing the original sensitive data to multiple parties.
3Ease of operation
If a validated contract is provisioned to the electric vehicle for card-not-present transactions, then seamless charging across stations is achieved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs contract validation and authentication in advance before the actual charging transaction. When a consumer first uses a charging station, the system pre-validates the payment method and provisions a validated contract to the vehicle's onboard system. This preliminary action ensures that subsequent charging sessions can proceed seamlessly without repeated validation, reducing the perceived complexity for the consumer while maintaining robust security.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service functionality where the electric vehicle's onboard system automatically stores and presents the validated contract for future transactions. Once the contract is provisioned to the vehicle, the system autonomously handles authentication at subsequent charging stations without requiring consumer intervention. The vehicle itself serves as the secure storage and presentation mechanism for the validated contract, reducing operational complexity for the user.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method facilitates contract-based electric vehicle (EV) charging transactions by generating a contract bound to a digital payment card identifier (ID) linked to a payment account. A user system transmits the contract to a server system for validation against a contract certificate chain. Upon receiving a validated success message from the server, the user system provisions the contract to the EV. During a charging session, the user system transmits the validated contract to the charge point (CP). The CP verifies the contract, enabling the initiation of a card-not-present (CNP) transaction using the digital card ID. This method ensures secure authentication and payment processing for EV charging without requiring manual input from the user.