Published October 12, 2012
By Philippe Crowe
Yesterday the Car Charging Group, Inc. announced the filing of a provisional patent application for an EV charging station with a toggle unit.
Utilizing the toggle unit, the EV charging station will have the ability to charge multiple EVs successively without the insertion or removal of plugs during the charging process. This feature improves the process of current EV charging stations; reduces potential strain on the energy grid; and reduces EV service equipment, network, and energy costs.
Currently, an EV battery begins to charge as soon as it is plugged into an EV charging station and the session is activated.
In instances where the station is occupied for long periods of time such as overnight at multifamily or mixed-use properties, other EV drivers are not able to charge their EV. This can cause frustration for EV owners and limit their use of the charging station.
Alternatively, EV charging stations with two or more plugs charge EVs simultaneously which can strain the energy grid.
CarCharging's EV charging station provisional patent optimizes the efficiency of the EV station through the use of a toggle unit, processor, and multiple plugs. The toggle unit activates the charging current from the station to the first of multiple plugs attached to the charging station.
Then, the processor detects when charging is complete, and the toggle unit deactivates the first plug and activates the next plug. This process permits multiple EVs to plug into the station simultaneously and charge as the current becomes available.
This design also reduces the internal components of current EV charging stations, thereby reducing equipment and network costs.
CarCharging anticipates that stations developed with this new design will continue to utilize the ChargePoint network.
Furthermore, CarCharging's EV charging station provisional patent offers EV drivers the ability to delay the charge of their EV to off-peak times without having to be physically present to initiate the charge. This feature will reduce the energy costs associated with charging the EV.
"As a nationwide provider of EV charging services, we are keenly aware of the advantages and disadvantages of current EV charging stations," said Michael D. Farkas, CEO of CarCharging. "In order to optimize EV charging services, we feel that it is imperative that the stations have the ability to charge multiple EVs consecutively. We firmly believe that our provisional patent provides this solution."
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