EVSE Add-on Adapter for Simultaneous Dual Vehicle Charging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric vehicle charging stations typically have limited capacity, allowing only one vehicle to charge at a time due to circuit breaker and branch circuit limitations, and previous solutions either require additional infrastructure or impose wait times on subsequent vehicles.
Innovation Solution
An EVSE add-on adapter that plugs into a single charging port, providing two charging cables and dynamically determines modified available charging rates to allow simultaneous charging of two vehicles without requiring increased system capacity or rewiring, by simulating EVSE interactions and using a charge sharing control circuit to allocate charging capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If a single charging port EVSE is used, then the system capacity and infrastructure requirements are maintained, but the number of available charging ports is limited to one vehicle at a time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single charging port into multiple virtual charging ports through the use of an add-on adapter that provides multiple charging cables. This segmentation allows one physical port to serve multiple vehicles simultaneously by creating separate charging circuits for each cable, effectively increasing the number of available charging ports without requiring additional infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The add-on adapter enables a single EVSE to perform multiple functions by providing both a first charging cable and a second charging cable from one charging port. This multi-functionality allows the system to charge multiple vehicles simultaneously while maintaining compatibility with standard EVSE infrastructure, making the single port serve universal charging needs.
2Quantity of substance
If previous EVSE add-on adapters with multiple charging ports are used, then the number of charging ports is increased, but wait time is imposed on vehicles that are not first in line to be charged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic charge sharing control that automatically adjusts charging rates based on the number of connected vehicles. When multiple vehicles are connected, the system dynamically allocates charging capacity and adjusts rates in real-time, eliminating wait times by ensuring all connected vehicles receive charging simultaneously rather than sequentially.
Solution Approach 2:
The charge sharing control circuit continuously monitors the charging status of multiple vehicles and adjusts charging rates based on feedback from each vehicle's charging needs. This feedback mechanism allows the system to optimize power distribution dynamically, ensuring fair and simultaneous charging for all connected vehicles without imposing wait times on subsequent vehicles.
3Quantity of substance
If separate branch circuits are provided for each charging port of a multi-port EVSE, then simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles is enabled, but infrastructure modification such as rewiring is required
Solution Approach 1:
The add-on adapter serves as an intermediary device that bridges the gap between a single charging port and multiple charging cables. It contains the necessary circuitry to create separate charging circuits for each cable internally, eliminating the need for external infrastructure modification such as rewiring separate branch circuits while still enabling simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles.
4Power
If sequential powering of multiple charging ports is used, then system capacity is maintained, but productivity is reduced due to wait times for subsequent vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic charge sharing control that enables simultaneous charging of multiple vehicles by continuously adjusting charging rates based on real-time conditions. This dynamic approach allows the system to maintain full power capacity while increasing productivity, as all connected vehicles charge at the same time rather than sequentially, maximizing the utilization of available power.
Data Source
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AI summary
An add-on adapter 110 enables a single charging port 102 of an electric vehicle charging station 100 to simultaneously charge two electric vehicles. An adapter controller 120 determines the available charging rate offered by the charging station. Electric vehicle charging handles 150A, 150B are determined to be connected to the electric vehicles. A charge sharing control circuit 300 in the adapter controller, determines modified available charging rates to be offered for simultaneously charging the electric vehicles. The modified available charging rates are based on the connection states of the electric vehicles and the available charging rate offered by the charging station. The adapter controller controls two contactors 130A, 130B to switchably connect a charging station power socket to the electric vehicle charging handles, to provide shared power at the determined modified available charging rate to the electric vehicles, for simultaneous charging.