Charging system for electric vehicles

Abstract

An electric vehicle charging system includes a power distributing system configured to receive power from a power control system and selectively direct the power to one of a plurality of power dispensers coupled to the power distribution system.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An electric vehicle charging system, comprising:
 a power control system configured to receive power from a utility grid;   a power distribution system configured to receive power from the power control system; and   a first power dispenser and a second power dispenser coupled to the power distribution system, wherein   the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser are each configured to direct power to an electric vehicle, and wherein the power distribution system is configured to selectively direct the received power to one of the first and second power dispensers, and   the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser each include a communication system configured to communicate with both (1) the electric vehicle and (2) at least one of the power distribution system or the power control system.   
     
     
         22 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser communicates with the electric vehicle to determine a current state of charge of the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         23 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 22 , wherein the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser determine the power to deliver to the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         24 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 23 , wherein the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser provide instructions to at least one of the power distribution system and the power control system. 
     
     
         25 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 24 , wherein the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser communicate with both the power distribution system and the power control system. 
     
     
         26 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the power distribution system or the power control system include control system communication with one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser. 
     
     
         27 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser include an isolation transformer for isolating the electric vehicle from other dispensers of the power distribution system. 
     
     
         28 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 21 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser is bidirectional. 
     
     
         29 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 21 , wherein the power distribution system includes one or more contactors. 
     
     
         30 . The electric vehicle charging system of  claim 21 , further comprising a third power dispenser and a fourth power dispenser coupled to the power distribution system, wherein the third power dispenser and the fourth power dispenser are each configured to direct power to an electric vehicle, and wherein the power distribution system is configured to selectively direct the received power to one of the first, second, third, and fourth power dispensers. 
     
     
         31 . A method of charging an electric vehicle comprising:
 releasably coupling a first power dispenser to a first electric vehicle and a second power dispenser to a second electric vehicle, wherein the first and second power dispensers are coupled in a parallel manner to a power distribution system, and the power distribution system is coupled to a power control system;   electrically coupling the first dispenser to the power control system;   electrically coupling the second dispenser to the power control system;   receiving information regarding the first electric vehicle and the second electric using a communications system communicatively coupled with the power control system, the information causing the first electric vehicle and the second electric vehicle to be charged;   selectively directing power from one of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser without directing power to the other of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser based on the information.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser communicates with the electric vehicle to determine a current state of charge of the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser determines a power to deliver to the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser provides instructions to at least one of the power distribution system or the power control system. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser communicate with both the power distribution system and the power control system. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein one or more of the power distribution system and the power control system includes control system communication with the first power dispenser or the second power dispenser. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser include an isolation transformer and determine which dispenser will provide power to the electric vehicle. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein one or more of the first power dispenser and the second power dispenser are bidirectional. 
     
     
         39 . A power distribution system comprising:
 a plurality of power dispensers, each of the plurality of power dispensers electrically coupled to a power control system through the power distribution system, the power control system electrically coupled to an electrical grid and the power distribution system comprising a power distribution communications system; and   a control unit configured to:
 receive power from the power control system; 
 receive information regarding a plurality of electric vehicles coupled to the plurality of power dispensers via the power distribution communications system; 
 determine to charge one or more of the plurality of electric vehicles based on the information received via the power distribution communications system; 
 selectively direct power to one or more of the plurality of electric vehicles coupled to the plurality of power dispensers based on the determination. 
   
     
     
         40 . The power distribution system of  claim 39 , wherein one or more of the electric vehicles is an electric bus.