Ford Global Technolgoies, LLC

Bikram Singh

Dylan Erb

Jacob Wiles

Alexander Bartlett

Baocheng Sun

Nathan Kristofor Tardif

Thomas Matthew Younce

Arun Sivan

A system includes a processor configured to receive a vehicle identifier identifying a vehicle from a first digital entity. The processor is also configured to digitally obtain a payment account associated with the identifier, responsive to receiving the identifier. The processor is further configured to validate payment rights through input from a second entity, confirming the right to use the account to pay for charging the vehicle and responsive to successful validation, charge the payment account for vehicle charging, following vehicle charging completion.

Method and apparatus for fuel payment processing

A charging station comprises a processor programmed to receive a vehicle identifier identifying a vehicle from a first digital entity; receive a payment authentication from a second digital entity; electronically identify an account associated with the vehicle identifier and the payment authentication; verify payment rights confirming a right to use the account to pay; and responsive to successful verification, activate the charging station to charge and process payment from the account.

Automatic plug-and-pay with multi-factor authentication for fueling vehicles

A vehicle includes a controller programmed to recognize a park event at a parking location, learn charging intention associated with the parking location, and, responsive to predicting an intention to charge the vehicle at the parking location and recognizing that a user has left a vicinity of the vehicle without connecting a charger, cause a device associated with the user to issue a charge reminder. The controller predicts the intention to charge based on contextual data from previous park events.

Adaptive plug-in reminder via smart phone application

Vehicles such as a combustion engine, electric, and/or hybrid electric vehicles and methods of operation, which include controller(s) configured to respond to cruise control signals, and to generate a route efficiency profile according to instantaneous vehicle performance parameters and environmental conditions. The controller(s) are also modified to adjust a vehicle cruise speed according to the signal and profile, to enable reaching at least one designated destination in a minimum time, and whereby vehicle range is extended to the destination, while one or more reserve energy limits of battery power and fuel are maintained. The controller(s) are also adapted to detect instantaneous feedback signals that include the performance parameters and environmental conditions, and to generate error signals according to an actual vehicle watt-hour per mile efficiency and the route efficiency profile. The controller(s) adjust the cruise speed adaptively according to the error signal, such that error signal magnitude is reduced.

Adaptive cruise control system

An exemplary assembly includes, among other things, a group of battery cells, and an array plate assembly having a pressure retention pad that is configured to plastically deform in response to the group of battery cells expanding. An exemplary method includes, among other things, compressing a group of battery cells with an array plate assembly having a pressure retention pad, the pressure retention pad plastically deforming in response to the group of battery cells expanding.

Battery array plate assembly with pressure retention pad

An exemplary battery assembly includes an enclosure having a first portion interfacing with a separate, second portion along an interface. A seal is at the interface, and a shear cord is configured to rupture the seal when moved from a first position to a second position. An exemplary battery accessing method includes moving a shear cord from a first to a second position to rupture a seal. The seal is at an interface between a first and a second portion of an enclosure.

Battery assembly having a shear cord and battery accessing method using the shear cord

A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, compressing at least one battery module to a desired dimension prior to installing the battery module into an array. Another method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, inducing a residual stress into a battery module to compress the battery module to a desired dimension prior to being installed in an array. An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a compression device configured to temporarily compress at least one battery module to a desired dimension prior to installing the battery module into an array.

Method and apparatus for assembly of a battery array

This disclosure describes exemplary electrified vehicle charging systems for charging battery packs. An exemplary charging system includes a visual indicator (e.g., pictogram, text, or both) located on-board the vehicle that can be automatically illuminated once the battery pack has been charged to a predefined minimum state of charge (SOC) threshold. The visual indicator communicates charging status messages to other electrified vehicle users, and once illuminated, provides an intuitive indication to the other vehicle users that the electrified vehicle that is currently on-plug has received a sufficient amount of charge and therefore may be unplugged from a charging station. The visual indicator therefore facilitates a courtesy hand-off of charging station components from one electrified vehicle user to another. In addition to or instead of the on-board visual indicator, the charging system may facilitate courtesy hand-offs between electrified vehicle users by broadcasting charging status messages through one or more mobile applications.

Systems and methods for facilitating courtesy charging station hand-offs between electrified vehicle users

An exemplary traction battery assembly includes, among other things, a container disposed about a portion of a fastened joint within an interior of a traction battery enclosure. The container is configured to hold contaminants to block the contaminants from contacting a surface of a component housed within the interior. An exemplary contaminant containing method includes, among other things, within an interior area of a traction battery enclosure, holding contaminants within a container to block the contaminants from contacting a surface of a component housed within the interior. The container is disposed about a fastened joint within the interior area.

Assembly and method for containing contaminants within an interior area of a traction battery pack

A charging system for an electrified vehicle includes a battery pack, a charging component in charging connection with the battery pack, a visual indicator on the charging component, and a control module configured to illuminate the visual indicator in response to reaching a predefined state of charge (SOC) threshold of the battery pack. The visual indicator can indicate that the SOC of the battery pack has reached a level that is acceptable for unplugging the electrified vehicle from a charging station.

Growing community of inventors

Royal Oak, MI, United States of America

Bikram Singh