Proterra Inc.

Proterra Operating Company, Inc.

Keyur M Shah

Seamus McGrath

Reuben Sarkar

John Gerber

Roger Innes

Timothy J McCartney

Michael C Walker

Matthew Simonini

Samuel Bryan Shartzer

Neeraj Chirmulay

Gordon Dollar

Marc Gottschalk

Seamus T Mcgrath

John A Gerber

Roger A Innes

Timothy J Mccartney

Systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. An electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

Electric vehicle charging interface

A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station includes electrically connecting the charging station to the vehicle. The charging station may be configured to charge the vehicle using a charging station charge protocol and the vehicle may be configured to receive the charge using a vehicle charge protocol. The vehicle receives a signal indicative of the charging station charge protocol and selects the vehicle charge protocol based on this signal. The vehicle is then charged using the selected vehicle charge protocol. While selecting, the vehicle may select one charge protocol from multiple charge protocols supported by the vehicle to match the charging station charge protocol.

Multi-protocol charge port for an electric vehicle

An electric vehicle charging system includes a charging interface positioned on an external surface of the electric vehicle and one or more electrodes positioned on the charging interface. The charging system may also include a heating system positioned on the charging interface. The heating system may be configured to heat at least a portion of the charging interface. The charging system may also include a control system configured to selectively activate the heating system based at least on one or more ambient conditions.

A method of docking an electric vehicle with a charging station includes periodically transmitting data from the vehicle to the charging station. The transmitted data may include a distance travelled by the vehicle location towards the charging station and its speed. An incremental distance travelled by the vehicle in a time interval between when the data is collected and received is calculated, and the distance corrected based on this calculated value. The relative position of the vehicle with respect to the charging station is determined based on the corrected distance, and a charge head of the charging station is automatically connected with the charging interface of the vehicle based on the determined relative position.

Method of docking an electric vehicle for charging

The present disclosure provides systems and methods for enabling fast charging of an electric vehicle at a charging station. In one embodiment, an electric vehicle in positioned in a given location for charging and/or discharging. A charging arm comprising a plurality of charging brushes is then positioned relative to the position of the electric vehicle. The plurality of charging brushes on the charging arm is positioned to contact a charging interface of the electric vehicle. The charging brushes are moved relative to the charging interface such that a portion of the charging brushes is removed as a result of the movement.

A method of docking an electric vehicle at a charging station may include identifying the vehicle as it approaches the charging station and transmitting a distance parameter from the charging station to the vehicle. The distance parameter may be a measure of distance. The method may also include determining a desired speed of the vehicle based on the distance parameter using an algorithm in the vehicle, and controlling the vehicle to attain the determined desired speed.

A method for aligning a vehicle at a charging station may include determining the distance between each sensor of the plurality of sensors and a target surface of the charging station. The method may further include aligning the vehicle at the charging station using the determined distance data, and charging the electric vehicle at the charging station. The method may further include using the determined distances to align the side of the vehicle substantially parallel to the target surface.

System and method to assist in vehicle positioning

A vehicle charging system comprises a plurality of retractable conductor bars in a housing of a vehicle. The plurality of conductor bars includes a positive conductor bar and a negative conductor bar. Individual conductor bars of the plurality are electrically isolated from one another. The vehicle charging system further comprises a charging system having a receiver mounted on a support structure. The receiver comprises a plurality of electrical contact members in electrical communication with a power source. The receiver is configured to bring individual conductor bars of the plurality in contact with the electrical contact members for charging an energy storage device of the vehicle.

Side-facing vehicle charging system

A method of operating an electric vehicle may include determining an angle of inclination of the electric vehicle, and selecting rates of regenerative braking corresponding to multiple brake pedal positions based on the determined angle of inclination.

Controlling electric vehicle operation based on inclination

A method of charging an electric vehicle at a charging station may include driving the vehicle towards the charging station, and using a plurality of RFID tags and one or more RFID readers to determine a relative position of the charging interface of the vehicle with respect to the charge head assembly of the charging station. The method may also include engaging the charge head assembly with the charging head, and charging the vehicle.

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Erie, PA, United States of America

Keyur M Shah