Technical field of invention

The disclosure relates to an electric vehicle charger and especially an electric vehicle charger with detachable charging units.

Background

The use of electric vehicles are increasing and thereby the need of electric vehicle chargers. The cost of electric vehicle chargers is high and for their manufacturing components are required for which the availability in many areas is low.

Besides the cost for the electric vehicle charger itself, there are costs for installation of the charger, mainly performed by an electrician. At large facilities, such as in parking houses, apartment buildings, office buildings and the like, the installation costs may be significant. Further, over time the charger infrastructure may need to be complemented, adding up the costs for again contracting an electrician for additional work.

Hence, there may be a need for a solution for electric vehicle chargers that would be beneficial in large installations in terms of installation costs and flexibility in e.g. expanding the system.

Summary

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved solution that alleviates the drawbacks of present devices. Furthermore, it is an object to provide a flexible electric vehicle charger that provides effective use of components and space. The invention is defined by the appended independent claim, with embodiments being set forth in the appended dependent claims, in the following description and in the drawings.

According to one aspect of the inventive concept there is provided an electric vehicle charger comprising a support unit. The support unit comprises a first portion and a second portion. The support unit is configured to receive power supplied to the electric vehicle charger. The first portion is configured to receive and supply power to a first detachable charging unit capable of charging an electric vehicle. The second portion is configured to receive and supply power to a second detachable charging unit capable of charging an electric vehicle.

To be able to detach two charging units from the support unit may enable at least two vehicles to be charged from the electric vehicle charger. It may also enable the possibility to procure and arrange more support units than attached charging units, in order to cope with a future demand. If the demand is increasing more charging units may be attached to the support units being capable of receiving two charging units. In particular, one charging unit may initially be attached to a support unit and another one may be attached to the same support unit if needed in the future. Thereby, the number of attached charging units may be changed based on the demand without the need of additional installation costs since the support unit may already be prepared to receive a charging unit and supply power thereto. Furthermore, if two charging units are attached to the electric vehicle charger and one of them goes out of order, the other one may still be operating. The support unit may further contribute to a longer reach for the vehicle charger contributing to a better utilization of parking space.

In one embodiment the first portion and the second portion may be formed in an integrated unit. By being formed as an integrated unit, the support unit with its first and second portion may easily be installed in a safe manner with the required power supply. An installation fulfilling the requirements on the installation and preparations for future arrangements of one or two charging units thereon may thereby be provided. An effective installation, that may fulfil both present and future demands, may also be provided. By being formed as an integrated unit, it may mean that the first and second portions may be formed in a single piece of material, being e.g. plastics or metal. The support unit, with its two portions, may thereby be provided as a single component with its two portions being configured to receive respective charging units. In one embodiment the first and/or second detachable charging units may be configured to be attached to and detached from the support unit by a user. The attachment and detachment of charging units may imply a high flexibility of the electric vehicle charger. Charging units may be stored by an owner of electric vehicle chargers and attached by a user when needed. If the demand of charging electric vehicles decreases, for example in an electric vehicle pool or at an enterprise parking lot, a user, which may or may not be an electrician, may detach charging units which may be attached during an increased demand. If one detachable charging unit goes out of order it may be replaced by a user without a need to hire an electrician. Moreover, a detachable charging unit may be replaced without having to cut the current to the electric vehicle charger. Since a detachable charging unit may be moved from a support unit to another, the present invention may also contribute to a more effective use of electronic components, especially in an embodiment in which the detachable charging unit comprises a large proportion of electronic components which are needed in an electric vehicle charger, in order to charge an electric vehicle from a power grid.

In one embodiment the electric vehicle charger comprises said detachable charging units.

In one embodiment the first and second detachable charging unit may be configured to be attached to the support unit with a snap fit function, by screwing means, or by a form-fitted function. The snap fit function may provide an easy attachment and detachment of the detachable charging unit in relation to the support unit without any need of tools. Further the snap fit function may enhance the possibility for one user to remove or attach the detachable charging unit alone. The snap fit function may also be implemented so as when snap fit elements of the support unit and the detachable charging unit attach to each other a sound is heard which may indicate that the support unit gets electrically connected to the detachable charging unit and/or that the detachable charging unit is in place. The alternative use of screwing means may be performed by one or two users to attach the detachable charging unit to the support unit. The attachment may alternatively take place by a combination of above described attachment means.

In one embodiment the electric vehicle charger may comprise a first connection terminal on the first portion configured to be connected to a corresponding connection terminal on the first detachable charging unit, and the second portion may comprise a second connection terminal configured to be connected to a corresponding connection terminal on the second detachable charging unit. The connection terminals and other attachment points between the support unit and the detachable charging unit may be oriented relative each other such that the connection terminals are connected to each other in a stable manner, when the attachment means, such as screwing means or the snap fit function are attached to the attachment means of the other of the support unit and the detachable charging unit. Thereby the convenience of the user to attach the detachable charging unit to the support unit may be enhanced. Further, the electric connection between the support unit and the detachable charging unit may be stable and risks for glitches may be low.

In one embodiment the detachable charging unit may be configured to be disconnected from power supply when detached from the support unit. For the detachable charging unit to be power free when detached from the support unit enhances a safe handling of the detachable charging unit without the risk of being exposed to electrical current or without the need to cut the power supply to the electric vehicle charger. Further, the detachable charging unit may be repaired or otherwise handled in a safe manner.

In one embodiment the detachable charging units comprises a detachable charging cable terminal. The detachable charging cable terminal may enable the possibility to replace a charging cable terminal if one charging cable terminal goes out of order. The time for replacing a charging cable terminal may be higher than for repairing it and thereby this feature may contribute to a more time effective reparation of the electric vehicle charger. In one embodiment detachment of a detachable charging unit from the support unit enables the position of the charging cable terminal on said detachable charging unit to be changed. The enablement to change the position of the charge cable terminal by detachment of the detachable charging unit from the support unit may provide a safe changing of the position of a charging cable terminal. The position of the charging cable terminal may be changed between for example the right side and the left side of the detachable charging unit. A charging cable terminal may further be moved from one detachable charging unit to another. If two detachable charging units are to be attached to a support unit, it may be desirable to have a charging cable terminal attached on the right side on one of the detachable charging units and to have another charging cable terminal attached on the left side of the other of the detachable charging units.

In one embodiment the charging cable terminal may be configured to be attached to and detached from any of the detachable charging units by a user. For a user to be able to do this operation may further contribute to the flexibility of the electric vehicle charger and decrease the need of hiring an electrician.

In one embodiment, external power supply may be received by one of the first and second portions and internally distributed to the other of the first and second portions of the support unit. Less installation work to install power supply may thereby be needed since the power supply installed to the electric vehicle charger and the support unit may supply power to two charging units. Further, even if only one charging unit is arranged to the support unit at time of installation of the electric vehicle charger, no further installation work is needed at a future time when an additional charging unit is arranged.

In one embodiment, at least one of the first and second portions may be configured to receive, instead of a detachable charging unit, a cover member. At installation time, only one of the first and second portions of the support unit may be provided with a charging unit. The other portion may be prepared for future arrangement of a charging unit. In the meantime, a cover member may be arranged to that portion of the support unit. The cost of a second charging unit, at present not needed, may thereby be avoided, at the same time as the support unit with e.g. connection terminal is not left uncovered. Both of the first and second portions may thereby be configured to receive either of a charging unit and a cover member.

In one embodiment, the electric vehicle charger may comprise the first detachable charging unit attached to the first portion of the support unit and a cover member attached to the second portion of the support unit. Alternatively, an engine heater unit may be arranged to the second portion. The engine heater unit may be a unit that provides power outlets for connection to an engine heater of a vehicle. The engine heater unit may comprise a connection terminal for connection to the connection terminal of the second portion of the support unit. The engine heater unit may thereby be powered by the support unit. The engine heater unit may be detachable and attachable to the support unit correspondingly as a charging unit. In some embodiments, the engine heater unit may be defined as a general power outlet unit, providing power outlets for general mains supply.

In one embodiment, the electric vehicle charger may comprise the support unit and two cover members arranged to the first and second portions of the support unit. In one embodiment, the electric vehicle charger comprises one or two charging units to be arranged to one or two of the two portions of the support unit, and one or two cover members to be arranged to one or two of the portions of the support unit.

The user may with the present invention not need to store both detachable charging units with the charging cable terminal on a specific position on the detachable charging unit, such as on its right side or on its left side since the user may change the position of the detachable charging cable terminal on the charging unit.

In one embodiment, the electric vehicle charger may comprise the first detachable charging unit attached to the first portion of the support unit and a cover member or an engine heater unit attached to the second portion of the support unit. The electric vehicle charger may be formed as a system enabling charging units, cover members and/or engine heater units to be attached to the support unit. No configuration of either portions of the support unit may be needed depending on which of the charging unit, cover member, engine heater unit is arranged thereto. In some embodiment, the charging unit and the engine heater unit may be configured based on the installation characteristics of the support unit.

In some embodiments, the support unit comprises at least one RFID tag. The RFID tag may provide, upon reading it, an identification of the support unit. A charging unit to be arranged on e.g. the first portion of the support unit, may comprise an RFID reader, configured to read an RFID tag arranged on the first portion of the support unit. The charging unit may be configured based on the reading of the RFID tag on the support unit. The configuration of the charging unit may involve adapting the charging unit to the installation of the support unit in terms of e.g. current level supplied to the support unit, and/or cable parameters. The information for the configuration may be stored in the charging unit itself and selected based on the read identification of the support unit from the RFID tag. Alternatively, the information for the configuration may be stored on a server in which the charging unit may be communicatively connected to. The charging unit may be communicatively connected to the server through a network via wired or wireless communication. The server may have stored information regarding the identity of the support unit, in connection with information of the installation of the support unit, such as current level supplied to the support unit and cable parameters.

When the charging unit has read the RFID tag of the support unit and retrieved the identification of the support unit, it may request from the server the installation information for the support unit for configuration of the charging unit. As an example, when installed, the support unit may be supplied with 16A current, and provided with an identification SU01. In the server, the identification SU01 may be stored with the information of 16A current supply level. Such information may be supplied to the server by an installer of the support unit. When the charging unit is attached to the support unit, the charging unit reads the RFID tag providing the identification SU01. The charging unit may then request information for configuration from the server based on the read identification SU01. The server may respond with the information of 16A current level. The charging unit may then be configured for supply of 16A current. The control of the charging of an electric vehicle by the electric vehicle charger may thereby be performed by the charging unit with the 16A configuration.

The RFID reader on the charging unit may be arranged at a backside of the charging unit, the side facing the support unit when attached thereto, such that the RFID reader is arranged towards the RFID tag on the support unit.

The communication between the charging unit and the server may further provide information regarding identification of the charging unit, such that information of the charging unit being attached to the support unit may be stored on the server. The server may store information connecting a specific charging unit to a specific support unit. Such information may be used for e.g. load balancing in an installation system comprising a plurality of electric vehicle chargers.

In some embodiments, the support unit comprising the first and second portions may comprise two RFID tags, one on each of the first and second portions. The two RFID tags may provide the same or different identifications. A first RFID tag provided on the first portion may be read by a charging unit attached to the first portion, and a second RFID tag provided on the second portion may be read by a charging unit attached to the second portion, or an engine heater unit correspondingly comprising a RFID reader.

The electric vehicle charger may be part of a system of a plurality of electric vehicle chargers. An owner of the system may control the information stored on the server for the electric vehicle chargers, the support units, the charging units etc.

In some embodiments, a charging unit may comprise an additional RFID reader, a user RFID tag reader. The user RFID tag reader may be arranged at a front side of the charging unit, a side facing away from the support unit, and accessible to a user. The user RFID tag reader may be configured to read a user RFID tag that a user may use to activate charging of an electric vehicle by the electric vehicle charger. The charging unit may be configured to only enable charging when a user RFID tag of a user with granted access to the electric vehicle charger has been read. The charging unit may be configured to either request information whether to enable charging based on a read user RFID tag from the server, by sending the read information in the user RFID tag, or to store information on whether to enable charging following information from reading a specific user RFID tag. Such stored information may previously have been retrieved from the server. The system owner may control the information stored on the server and/or communicated to the charging unit on access to charging following reading of user RFID tags. The information provided by a user RFID tag may be a unique identification of the user RFID tag.

In embodiments comprising an engine heater unit, such engine heater unit may comprise an RFID reader correspondingly as described above for a charging unit. Based on a reading of an RFID tag, the engine heater unit may be configured for the installation of the support unit.

All that is said above for an electric vehicle charger comprising an RFID tag on the support unit and an RFID reader on the charging unit (or engine heater unit), and/or a user RFID tag reader on the charging unit (or engine heater unit), may be equally applicable to embodiments of an electric vehicle charger comprising a single support unit configured to receive one charging unit only. A single support unit may be a support unit as described herein with only a first portion for receiving a charging unit.

Brief description of drawings

Fig. 1 shows a front view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 shows a side view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 shows a backside view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 5 shows a bottom view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 shows a side view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7 shows a top view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 shows a bottom view of an electric vehicle charger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 shows a front view of a support unit according to an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of an engine heater unit according to an embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

An electric vehicle charger 1 is illustrated in Fig. 1-8 from different perspectives and in different embodiments.

The electric vehicle charger 1 has a support unit 2 to which one or two detachable charging units 3, 5, one or two cover members 4, or one or two engine heater units 6 may be attached. The support unit 2 may be connected to an electrical power grid. The support unit 2 comprises a first portion 21, and a second portion 22, which are in an integrated unit, and configured such that power is supplied to both portions 21, 22 of the support unit 2. Detachable charging units 3, 5 may be attached to and detached from either portion 21, 22 by a user, which may or may not be an electrician. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1-7 one detachable charging unit 3 is attached to the first portion 21 of the support unit 21 and one cover member 4 is attached to the second portion 22. It is likewise possible to attach the detachable charging unit 3 on the second portion 22 and the cover member 4 on the first portion 21. When the electric vehicle charger is not to be used replacement covers 4 may be attached to both portions 21, 22. An electric vehicle may be connected to a charging cable terminal 31 of one detachable charging unit 3 by plugging in a charging cable plug of the electric vehicle to the charging cable terminal 31.

Fig. 2 further illustrates the charging unit 3 comprising a user RFID tag reader 35 configured to read a user RFID tag that a user may use to active charging of an electric vehicle. The charging unit 3 may, following reading of a user RFID tag, retrieve information on whether to enable charging based on the reading of the user RFID tag. Such information may be stored in the charging unit, or retrieved from a server storing such information.

In Fig. 3 the charging unit 3 and the cover member 4 are seen from the side and they are attached to the support unit 2 to the right.

The backside of the electric vehicle charger 1 is illustrated in Fig. 4. The detachable charging unit 3 and the replacement cover 4 may be attached to and detached from the support unit 2 through a snap fit function, by screwing means or by a form-fitted function. The attachment may also be a combination of the above attachment means. Attachments means 33, 34 on the detachable charging unit 3 or the cover member 4, respectively, are attached to corresponding attachment means on the support unit 2, which is seen in Fig. 9.

The detachable charging unit 3 comprises a connection terminal which is connected to a connection terminal 23 of the support unit 2 when the detachable charging unit 3 is attached to the support unit 2. The support unit 2 is provided with two connection terminals 23, 24. One on the first portion 21 and one on the second portion 22.

The charging cable terminal 31 may be detachable from the charging unit 3 by slidably moving the charging cable terminal 31 out of its position on the charging unit 3. The charging cable terminal 31 may be detachable from the charging unit 3 in a direction to the back side of the charging unit 3, providing that such detachment is only enabled when the charging unit 3 is detached from the support unit 2.

In Figs. 5 and 7 the detachable charging unit 3 and a cover member 4 is illustrated from below and above, respectively. Here a terminal cover 32 is seen, which may be detachable by movement along a recess from the charging unit 3. The position of a charging cable terminal 31 may be changed by detaching it from one side position to another, replacing the previous position with a terminal cover 32.

In Fig. 6 the charging unit 3 is seen from the side with the charge cable terminal 31, in which an electric vehicle may be plugged in by opening the lid 39.

The embodiment of Figs. 1-7 comprises one charging unit 3 and one cover member 4 arranged to the support unit 2. This illustrates a use of the invention in a scenario wherein a support unit 2 with two portions 21, 22 has been installed, with power supplied thereto, enabling a double installation of charging units. However, at the time for installation, only one charging unit is needed. Instead of taking the cost for buying and attaching a second charging unit to the support unit 2, only one charging unit 3 is attached, along with a cover member 4. The cover member 4 is a protective member with the purpose of covering the second portion 22 and preventing unintentional user contact with the components thereon. When times come for the use of a second charging unit 5, the preinstalled support unit 2 with portions 21, 22 for double charging units 3, 5 installation enables a user, which may not need to be an electrician, to easily replace the cover member 4 with a second charging unit 5.

In Fig. 8 the embodiment is illustrated in which also a second charging unit 5 is attached to a support unit 2. Simultaneous charging of two electric vehicles may thereby be enabled from the electric vehicle charger 1. Here charging cable terminals 31, 36 are arranged to different sides of the detachable charging units 3, 5 and terminal covers 32, 37 to the other side, respectively of each detachable charging unit 3, 5.

In Fig. 9 the support unit 2 is illustrated without any charging units or cover member arranged thereto. The two portions 21, 22 of the support unit 2 are seen. The first portion 21 comprises attachment means 33 for attachment of a charging unit 3 or a cover member 4, and the second portion 22 comprises attachment means 43 for attachment of a charging unit 5 or a cover member 4. The first portion 21 further comprises a connection terminal 23 for connection to a corresponding connection terminal on the charging unit 3. The second portion 22 further comprises a connection terminal 24 for connection to a corresponding connection terminal on the charging unit 5. Power is supplied to the charging units 3, 5 via the connection terminals 23, 24. Power may be supplied from an external power supply of power grid to the connection terminals 23, 24 individually, or in a chain connection wherein the external power is supplied to one of the connection terminals 23, 24 which then supplies the power further to the other one. The connection terminals 23, 24 may be detachable from the corresponding connection terminals of the charging units 3, 5 without the need of any tools. The first and second portions 21, 22 of the support unit 2 may be formed as one integrated unit.

In Fig. 9, the support unit 2 is illustrated in an embodiment wherein the first portion 21 and the second portion 22 of the support unit 2 each comprises an RFID tag 38, 48. The RFID tag 38, 48 may provide, upon reading, information of the identity of the support unit 2 and/or the respective portion 21, 22 of the support unit 2. The RFID tag 38, 48 can be read by an RFID reader on a charging unit 3, 5 when arranged on the support unit 2. The read information from the RFID tag 38, 48 can be used by the charging unit 3, 5 for configuration of the charging unit 3, 5 based on properties of the installation of the support unit 2.

Fig. 10 illustrates an engine heater unit 6. The engine heater unit 6 may be arranged to the support unit 2 instead of a charging unit 3, 5 or a cover member 4. The engine heater unit 6 provides power outlets which may be used for e.g. an engine heater of a vehicle. In some embodiments, the engine heater unit 6 may be defined as a power outlet unit for arrangement to a support unit 6 to provide power outlets for general purpose.

The engine heater unit 6 may comprise an RFID reader, similar as described above for charging units 3, 5, for reading an RFID tag on the support unit 2. Such reading may be used for configuration of the engine heater unit 6. Further, the engine heater unit 6 may comprise a user RFID tag reader to read a user RFID tag, and be configured to enable use of (i.e. power supply to) the power outlets based on said reading. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.