Adam J. Mandel

A fleet management system dispatches autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) as on-demand power sources. The fleet management system receives a request for a power source including a location and data describing the amount of power requested. The fleet management system selects an AEV of the fleet to service the request based on the relative locations of the AEVs to the requested location, and based on the amount of power requested. The fleet management system instructs the selected AEV to drive to… Show more

A fleet management system dispatches autonomous electric vehicles (AEVs) as on-demand power sources. The fleet management system receives a request for a power source including a location and data describing the amount of power requested. The fleet management system selects an AEV of the fleet to service the request based on the relative locations of the AEVs to the requested location, and based on the amount of power requested. The fleet management system instructs the selected AEV to drive to the location and supply power. The fleet management system instructs the selected AEV to disconnect and return to the charging station, and may instruct another AEV to continue fulfilling the request if additional power is needed. Show less

An example direct current fast charger (DCFC) for providing asymmetrical charging power to electric vehicles can include a first power module having a rectifier and control electronics, and a second power module having a rectifier and control electronics. The first power module can be configured to receive a request to charge a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) at a specified charge rate; determine that the specified charge rate exceeds a maximum charge rate of the first power module; request… Show more

An example direct current fast charger (DCFC) for providing asymmetrical charging power to electric vehicles can include a first power module having a rectifier and control electronics, and a second power module having a rectifier and control electronics. The first power module can be configured to receive a request to charge a battery of an electric vehicle (EV) at a specified charge rate; determine that the specified charge rate exceeds a maximum charge rate of the first power module; request additional power from the second power module; when the second power module has available power to donate, receive donated power from the second power module; and charge the battery of the EV at an increased charge rate that exceeds the maximum charge rate of the first power module, the increased charge rate including a maximum power output of the first power module increased by the donated power. Show less

A system for powering an electric vehicle (EV) includes a battery, a power distribution module, and a battery bypass module. The power distribution module receives power from a charging station, draws power from the battery in a discharging mode, distributes power from the charging station to the battery in a charging mode, and distributes power to a plurality of subsystems of the EV. The battery bypass module is coupled to the battery and the power distribution module. When the battery bypass… Show more

A system for powering an electric vehicle (EV) includes a battery, a power distribution module, and a battery bypass module. The power distribution module receives power from a charging station, draws power from the battery in a discharging mode, distributes power from the charging station to the battery in a charging mode, and distributes power to a plurality of subsystems of the EV. The battery bypass module is coupled to the battery and the power distribution module. When the battery bypass module is engaged in a charging bypass mode, power distributed by the power distribution module bypasses the battery and is distributed to at least a subset of the plurality of subsystems of the EV. Show less

An equipment inspection system receives data captured by a sensor of an autonomous vehicle (AV). The captured data describes a current state of equipment for servicing the AV. The equipment inspection system compares the captured data to a model describing an expected state of the equipment. The equipment inspection system determines, based on the comparison, that the equipment differs from the expected state. The equipment inspection system may transmit data describing the current state of the… Show more

An equipment inspection system receives data captured by a sensor of an autonomous vehicle (AV). The captured data describes a current state of equipment for servicing the AV. The equipment inspection system compares the captured data to a model describing an expected state of the equipment. The equipment inspection system determines, based on the comparison, that the equipment differs from the expected state. The equipment inspection system may transmit data describing the current state of the equipment to an equipment manager. The equipment manager may schedule maintenance for the equipment based on the current state of the equipment. Show less

An electric vehicle (EV) is charged according to a selected charging rate. An available dispatch time is determined based on a current charge level of a battery of the EV, a first charging rate, and a target charge level. An anticipated dispatch time is determined based on predicted demand for a fleet of EVs that includes the EV. If the available dispatch time is later than the anticipated dispatch time, the first charging rate is selected; if the available dispatch time is earlier than the… Show more

An electric vehicle (EV) is charged according to a selected charging rate. An available dispatch time is determined based on a current charge level of a battery of the EV, a first charging rate, and a target charge level. An anticipated dispatch time is determined based on predicted demand for a fleet of EVs that includes the EV. If the available dispatch time is later than the anticipated dispatch time, the first charging rate is selected; if the available dispatch time is earlier than the anticipated dispatch time, a second charging rate that is lower than the first charging rate is selected. The second charging rate may be a rate that charges the battery of the EV to at least the target charge level in time for the anticipated dispatch time. Show less

The present disclosure provides a method comprising, subsequent to arrival of a vehicle at a charging station, establishing communications between a vehicle side autonomous charging system associated with the vehicle and a charging station side autonomous charging system associated with the charging station; receiving by the charging station side autonomous charging system at least one signal from the vehicle side autonomous charging system, wherein the at least one signal is indicative of a… Show more

The present disclosure provides a method comprising, subsequent to arrival of a vehicle at a charging station, establishing communications between a vehicle side autonomous charging system associated with the vehicle and a charging station side autonomous charging system associated with the charging station; receiving by the charging station side autonomous charging system at least one signal from the vehicle side autonomous charging system, wherein the at least one signal is indicative of a location of a charging port of the vehicle; and using the received at least one signal to guide a robotic extension arm of the charging station to a location proximate the vehicle charging port. Show less

An automated vehicle battery preconditioning system and method that receive battery state-of-charge and battery preconditioning time information from a vehicle battery management system of each of a plurality of vehicles and battery charging time and charging power information from a battery charger management system and, based on the information, generate a battery charging schedule and a battery preconditioning schedule for the plurality of vehicles; direct the battery charger management… Show more

An automated vehicle battery preconditioning system and method that receive battery state-of-charge and battery preconditioning time information from a vehicle battery management system of each of a plurality of vehicles and battery charging time and charging power information from a battery charger management system and, based on the information, generate a battery charging schedule and a battery preconditioning schedule for the plurality of vehicles; direct the battery charger management system to charge a battery of each of the plurality of vehicles according to the battery charging schedule; and direct the vehicle battery management system of each of the plurality of vehicles to precondition the associated battery according to the battery preconditioning schedule. The vehicle battery preconditioning system and method further receive power grid schedule and cost information and, based on the information, generate the battery charging schedule and the battery preconditioning schedule for the plurality of vehicles. Show less

Systems and methods for charging an electric vehicle fleet are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for charging the electric vehicle fleet comprises a plurality of power dispensers, and a method for charging the electric vehicle fleet comprises assigning each vehicle to be charged to a power dispenser. In some embodiments, a demand for each electric vehicle is determined based on vehicle status information received from the vehicles. In some embodiments, a first set of demands and a second… Show more

Systems and methods for charging an electric vehicle fleet are disclosed. In some embodiments, a system for charging the electric vehicle fleet comprises a plurality of power dispensers, and a method for charging the electric vehicle fleet comprises assigning each vehicle to be charged to a power dispenser. In some embodiments, a demand for each electric vehicle is determined based on vehicle status information received from the vehicles. In some embodiments, a first set of demands and a second set of demands are determined based on the demands of the electric vehicles, and the vehicles are assigned to power dispensers based on the first and second sets of demands. Show less

Systems and methods for a computer-based process that optimizes vehicle fleet charging systems. Failed chargers are detected and optimal paths are determined between these failed chargers and available chargers. Upon determining the optimal path, instructions to route the vehicle from the failed chargers to available chargers via these shortest paths are then communicated.