Methods, Systems, and Products for Charging Batteries

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products charge a battery in a vehicle. A charging station selects charging parameters based on a vehicle identification number associated with the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 establishing an initial communication between a vehicle and a charging station;   establishing, during the initial communication, an expected voltage for charging a battery in the vehicle;   terminating the initial communication between the vehicle and the charging station;   receiving, at the vehicle, electrical power from the charging station;   comparing a voltage of the electrical power to the expected voltage established during the initial communication;   determining a match between the voltage and the expected voltage; and   authorizing charging the battery in the vehicle in response to the match.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising processing a payment for the electrical power. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising retrieving a credit card number for the payment. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising retrieving billing information for the payment. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving a vehicle identification number during the initial communication. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising determining the expected voltage based on the vehicle identification number. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising terminating the electrical power. 
     
     
         8 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:   establishing an initial communication between a smartphone and a charging station;   establishing, during the initial communication, an expected voltage for charging a battery in a vehicle;   terminating the initial communication between the smartphone and the charging station;   receiving, at the vehicle, electrical power from the charging station;   comparing a voltage of the electrical power to the expected voltage established during the initial communication;   determining a match between the voltage and the expected voltage; and   authorizing charging the battery in the vehicle in response to the match.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise processing a payment for the electrical power. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a credit card number for the payment. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprise retrieving billing information for the payment. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving a vehicle identification number during the initial communication. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise determining the expected voltage based on the vehicle identification number. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operations further comprise terminating the electrical power. 
     
     
         15 . A memory storing instructions that when executed cause a processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:
 establishing communication between a vehicle and a charging station;   retrieving a vehicle identification number associated with the vehicle;   selecting a voltage based on the vehicle identification number;   receiving electrical power from an electrical grid;   transforming the electrical power to the voltage based on the vehicle identification number; and   sending transformed electrical power from the charging station to charge a battery in the vehicle.   
     
     
         16 . The memory of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise processing a payment for the electrical power. 
     
     
         17 . The memory of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise metering the electrical power consumed during charging the battery. 
     
     
         18 . The memory of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise terminating the electrical power. 
     
     
         19 . The memory of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise querying for payment of the electrical power. 
     
     
         20 . The memory of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise associating the vehicle identification number to a credit card number.