Proterra Inc.

Proterra Operating Company, Inc.

Kevin Ertel

Seamus McGrath

Justin Allen

Justin M Allen

Seamus T Mcgrath

A method for controlling the charging of one or more electric vehicles at one or more charging stations in a geographic locality includes determining if the charging event of an electric vehicle of the one or more electric vehicles increases a demand billing rate. The demand billing rate may be a cost per unit of energy in the locality. The method also includes charging the electric vehicle at the charging event such that the demand billing rate is not increased.

Electric vehicle charging to reduce utility cost

A charging station for an electric vehicle having a charging blade may include a charge head configured to electrically connect with a charging blade of a vehicle to charge the vehicle, the charge head extending from a front end to a rear end along a longitudinal axis that extends along a direction of travel of the vehicle. The charge head may include a first housing and a second housing, wherein the first and second housings are (a) symmetrically positioned about the longitudinal axis and (b) separated by a channel that extends from the front end to the rear end of the charge head, the channel being dimensioned to position the charging blade therein. The charge head may further include one or more charging brushes located in each of the first housing and the second housing, wherein each of the one or more charging brushes in each housing is configured to extend into the channel towards the other housing to contact the charging blade positioned in the channel. The charge head may also include one or more sensors located in at least one of the first housing or the second housing, wherein the one or more sensors is configured to detect a presence of the charging blade in the channel.

Growing community of inventors

Greenville, SC, United States of America

Kevin Ertel