HYBRID ELECTRIC AND HYDROGEN DISPENSING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

According to at least one aspect, a hybrid dispenser comprising at least one hydrogen gas nozzle configured to dispense hydrogen gas to a fuel tank of a vehicle is provided. According to some aspects, the hybrid dispenser comprises one or more electrical connectors for connecting to a vehicle to exchange electrical power, and at least one controller configured to cause electrical power to be provided to a vehicle via at least one of the one or more electrical connectors in a first operating mode and cause electrical power to be received from a vehicle via at least one of the one or more electrical connectors in a second operating mode. According to some aspect, the hybrid dispenser comprising a wireless charging system and at least one controller configured to initiate operation of the wireless charging system to wirelessly charge the vehicle during a charging event.

BACKGROUND

Electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as a zero-emission alternative to internal combustion engine vehicles. Electric vehicles include both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles (HFCV), also referred to herein as fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). BEVs operate with a large battery that provides electricity to drive an electric motor. This battery needs to be periodically recharged to operate the vehicle.FIGS.1A-1Cillustrate typical ways in which BEVs are charged.FIG.1Aillustrates an example of Level 1 charging of BEV100busing a charging cable28having a plug26configured for a standard wall outlet on one end and a connector27configured to mate with a reciprocal connector provided on electrical port117of BEV100b. Level 1 charging allows a BEV to be charged using standard household AC power (e.g., 120 VAC) via a standard wall outlet, but at very slow rates. BEVs are frequently sold with a corresponding Level 1 charging cable.

FIG.1Billustrates an example of Level 2 charging in which a charging unit4delivers higher levels of AC power (e.g., 240 VAC) for faster charging rates, but requires special equipment that typically must be professionally installed for home use, unless a large appliance outlet is available and a corresponding Level 2 charging cable is obtained (e.g., a cable with a plug on one end adapted for a large appliance outlet).FIG.1Cillustrates an example of fast DC charging in which a charging station103delivers DC power to BEV100bvia electrical cable18and connector27. Conventionally, DC power provided by charging station103is converted from three-phase AC power delivered by the utility grid to provide the high-current DC power needed for fast DC charging and is therefore not available for home use. Because the distance a BEV can travel before needing to be recharged depends on the electrical storage capacity of the battery, BEV batteries are typically relatively large, heavy and expensive.

FCEVs operate by providing compressed hydrogen to a fuel cell system (e.g., a fuel cell stack) that converts hydrogen gas into electricity to drive an electric motor. Similar to internal combustion engine vehicles, FCEVs are equipped with fuel tanks that must be refilled periodically, but with hydrogen gas rather than petroleum-based fuel (e.g., gasoline, diesel or the like). As illustrated inFIG.1D, conventional refueling of an FCEV100ainvolves engaging the fuel tank of the FCEV with a nozzle125configured to dispense hydrogen gas to the fuel tank of the vehicle under the control of hydrogen gas dispenser102. Hydrogen gas from the fuel tank is converted to electrical power by fuel cell system145to power the vehicle's electric motor and other electronic components of the vehicle. Conventional FCEV's typically also include a battery113that is charged via electrical power produced by fuel cell system145. Battery power may also be used to drive the motor (e.g., for additional fast-response, peak power, etc.). However, because the distance an FCEV can travel before requiring refueling depends on the energy stored in the hydrogen gas in the fuel tank and not the capacity of the battery, FCEV batteries are typically small, lightweight and inexpensive compared to BEV batteries.

Another type of EV is a hybrid vehicle that utilizes aspects of both FCEVs and BEVs and can be refueled with hydrogen gas like an FCEV and can be charged like a BEV. This hybrid EV is referred to herein as a plug-in fuel cell electric vehicle (PFCEV). An example PFCEV100cis illustrated inFIG.1E. A distinction between FCEV100aillustrated inFIG.1Dand PFCEV100cillustrated inFIG.1Eis that PFCEV100cincludes electrical port117having a connector to which a charging cable can be connected to charge battery213(e.g., using the conventional BEV charging methods illustrated inFIGS.1A-1C). Battery213can be used to extend the distance PFCEV100ccan travel before requiring refueling and/or recharging and, as such, is typically larger than an FCEV battery and is designed and configured to power the electric motor (and other power systems of the vehicle) for extended durations. The storage capacity of battery213may be chosen as a matter of design preference (including batteries having the storage capacity of state-of-the-art BEVs) in consideration of cost, footprint, weight, whether battery213is designed as the primary or secondary power source and/or other considerations involving hybrid control techniques that utilize electrical power provided by fuel cell system145and electrical power provided by battery213to operate the vehicle.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments include a hybrid dispenser comprising at least one hydrogen gas nozzle configured to dispense hydrogen gas to a fuel tank of a vehicle, one or more electrical connectors for connecting to a vehicle to exchange electrical power, and at least one controller configured to cause hydrogen gas to be dispensed to a vehicle via the at least one hydrogen gas nozzle during a fueling event, cause electrical power to be provided to a vehicle via at least one of the one or more electrical connectors in a first operating mode, and cause electrical power to be received from a vehicle via at least one of the one or more electrical connectors in a second operating mode.

Some embodiments include a method of utilizing a vehicle as an electrical power generator, the method comprising dispensing hydrogen gas to a fuel cell system of the vehicle, wherein the fuel cell system converts the hydrogen gas to electrical power, at least some of which is provided to a battery of the vehicle, establishing at least one electrical connection to the vehicle, receiving electrical power from the vehicle via the at least one electrical connection, and providing at least some of the electrical power from the vehicle to one or more electrical power receivers.

Some embodiments include a hybrid dispenser comprising at least one hydrogen gas nozzle configured to dispense hydrogen gas to a fuel tank of a vehicle, a wireless charging system, and at least one controller configured to cause hydrogen gas to be dispensed to a vehicle via the at least one hydrogen gas nozzle during a fueling event, and initiate operation of the wireless charging system to wirelessly charge the vehicle during a charging event.

Some embodiments include a system comprising at least one hydrogen gas provider configured to provide hydrogen gas to a fuel cell system, a power distribution system comprising an electrical power bus configured to distribute electrical power between electrical power providers and electrical power receivers, a plurality of power converters coupled to the electrical power bus. According to some embodiments, the plurality of power converters comprises a plurality of receive power converters configured to convert electrical power from a respective plurality of electrical power providers to provide electrical power therefrom to the electrical power bus, the plurality of receive power converters including at least one first receive power converter configured to convert electrical power from at least one electrical power network and at least one second receive power converter configured to convert electrical power from one or more electric vehicles, and a plurality of transmit power converters configured to convert electrical power from the electrical power bus to provide electrical power therefrom to a respective plurality of electrical power receivers, the plurality of transmit power converters including at least one first transmit power converter configured to provide electrical power to one or more electric vehicles. In a first operating mode according to some embodiments, the power distribution system is configured to provide, via the electrical power bus, electrical power received via the at least one first receive power converter to the at least one first transmit power converter to charge one or more electric vehicles. In a second operating mode according to some embodiments, the at least one hydrogen gas provider is configured to provide hydrogen gas to a fuel cell system of at least one electrical vehicle, and the power distribution system is configured to provide, via the electrical power bus, electrical power received via the at least one second receive power converter to one or more of the plurality of transmit power converters.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Widespread adoption of EVs depends in part on the ready availability of refueling or recharging stations. More consumers are likely to purchase an EV if consumers can be confident that the EV can be refueled or recharged when and where refueling/recharging is needed. BEVs typically have meaningfully shorter ranges than FCEVs (high-end lithium-ion batteries are now only approaching the range of conventional FCEVs). BEVs typically have long charge times whereas FCEVs can be refueled in timeframes on the same order as gasoline powered vehicles. As discussed above in connection withFIGS.1A-1C, BEVs can be charged at home with little or no additional equipment and have thus gained traction as passenger vehicles intended for city use, commuting, etc., involving relatively short distances amenable to overnight charging at home when the vehicle is not in use. Availability of public fast DC charging stations, differing charging connector standards, and the still relatively long charging times, have hampered wider adoption of BEVs.

With longer ranges and shorter refueling times, wide-spread adoption of FCEVs has been limited primarily by availability of hydrogen gas refueling facilities. FCEVs have gained traction in fleet operations such as industrial vehicles, public transportation, etc. in which dedicated hydrogen gas refueling installments have been deployed to support those operations. Conventionally, hydrogen refueling dispensers for FCEVs and electric charging stations for BEVs are separate and independent installments, typically deployed at different facilities and locations. The inventors developed hybrid dispensers adapted to allow both refueling of FCEVs and charging of BEV's, examples of which are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 11,196,062 ('062 patent), which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. Emerging PFCEV technology promises further integration of hydrogen gas and electric charging facilities.

The inventors recognized that hybrid dispensing (hybrid hydrogen gas fueling and electrical charging) techniques can facilitate the use of PFCEVs as a mobile generator and have developed hybrid dispensing methods and apparatus configured to refuel and/or recharge EVs (FCEVs, BEVs and PFCEVs) and configured to receive electrical power from PFCEVs, thus enabling the use of PFCEVs as mobile generators. Utilization of PFCEVs as an electrical power providers according to techniques described herein facilitates resiliency in electrical infrastructure by providing electrical power in circumstances in which electrical power received from one or more primary electrical power providers is disrupted and/or facilitates the ability to provide electrical power to electrical power receivers where no electrical infrastructure is provided or power from the electrical infrastructure has been disrupted or is otherwise unavailable or compromised, examples of which are described in further detail below.

Additionally, hybrid dispenser methods and apparatus described herein may utilize PFCEVs as an electrical power provider to support electrical infrastructure during periods of high demand, for example, by powering one or more electrical power receivers via PFCEVs instead of drawing power (or by drawing less power) from the electrical infrastructure to decrease the load on the electrical infrastructure, providing electrical power back to the electrical infrastructure for distribution to support periods of high demand, etc. According to some embodiments, electrical power from PFCEVs may be utilized during periods in which electrical infrastructure usage rates are high to reduce costs and make more efficient use of available electrical power resources. In this way, aspects of PFCEV utilization may be employed in response to electrical disturbances in electrical infrastructure (e.g., power loss), where electrical infrastructure is not available, to support the electrical infrastructure and/or when PFCEV electrical power may be more cost effective or efficient.

FIG.4Aillustrates an exemplary hybrid dispenser120configured to utilize EVs as an electrical power source (e.g., as a mobile generator), according to some embodiments. For example, hybrid dispenser120is configured to dispense hydrogen gas to FCEVs and PFCEVs, such as FCEV100aand PFCEV100c, via one or more hydrogen gas nozzles125coupled to dispenser housing121(e.g., via one or more respective hoses126). Hybrid dispenser120may, for example, include any one or combination of the components of the hydrogen dispensers described in the '062 patent and/or in U.S. Publication No.: 2022/0153568 ('568 publication), which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Hybrid dispenser120is also configured to dispense electrical power to charge EVs, such as BEV100band PFCEV100c, via one or more electrical connectors127coupled to dispenser housing121(e.g., via one or more respective electrical cables128) to provide electrical power to perform alternating current (AC) charging, direct current (DC) charging, combination AC/DC charging, etc. The term electrical connector (or simply connector) refers herein to a set (i.e., one or more) of terminal connections which can be female (e.g., socket-connections) or male (e.g., a plug-connections) configured to mate with a reciprocal or corresponding connector to establish an electrical connection through which electrical power may be provided. As illustrated inFIG.4B, one or more electrical connectors127may be provided on housing121to which an electrical cable having connectors on both ends can be connected to charge an EV (e.g., an electrical cable having a male connector on one end to plug into a female connector provided at the dispenser and a female connector on the other end to plug into a male connector on the electrical port of the EV). As discussed in further detail below, a connector may also include one or more data connections for exchanging data, such as control information, information about hybrid dispenser and/or EV capabilities, signaling between the hybrid dispenser and the EV, etc.

The connector coupled to the end of an electrical cable that plugs into the EV (whether the electrical cable is permanently attached to a charging station or plugged into a connector on the hybrid dispenser itself) is sometimes referred to generically as a “plug” even though the charging connector is conventionally female while receiving connectors on an EV are conventionally male in commonly adopted connector types, examples of which are described inFIGS.2A-2Dbelow. For example,FIG.2Aillustrates a charging connector127A comprising socket-connections127Aa and EV port connector117A comprising plug-connections117Aa, referred to as Type 1 connectors (e.g., the SAE J1772 Type 1 connector) configured to provide single-phase AC charging. As illustrated by the Type 1 pinout (female) for connector127A, the Type 1 socket-connector provides a first line single-phase AC socket-connection (L1), a second line single-phase AC or neutral socket-connection (N), a protective earth socket-connection (PE), a proximity pilot socket-connection (PP) for pre-insertion signaling and a control pilot socket-connection (CP) for post-insertion signaling. As illustrated by the Type 1 pinout (male) for connector117A, the Type 1 plug-connector provides plug-connections that mirror the socket-connection for proper mating of the connections when plugged-in. The Type 1 connector can be used for both Level 1 charging (e.g., 120 VAC charging in which the “N” connection is neutral) and Level 2 charging (e.g., 240 VAC charging in which the “N” connection provides a second single-phase AC line connection).

FIG.2Billustrates a combined charging system (CCS) charging connector127B comprising combination socket-connections127Ba and127Bb and a CCS port connector117B comprising combination plug-connections117Ba and117Bb, referred to as Combo 1 connectors. The Combo 1 connectors include two high current DC connections (DC+ and DC−) for fast DC charging (sometimes referred to as Level 3 charging). Typically, the CCS charging connector127B has socket receptacles for proper mating but without L1 and N/L2 electrical connections (e.g., the socket receptacles are not populated with L1 and N/L2 pins for providing AC power) when provided on the terminal end of a charging cable, but may include all connections when the connector is provided on the charging station itself.

FIG.2Cillustrates a charging connector127C comprising socket-connections127Ca and EV port connector117C comprising plug-connections117Ca, referred to as Type 2 connectors (e.g., SAE J3068 standard, IEC 62196, etc.) capable of providing single-phase AC charging, three-phase AC charging, DC-low charging or DC-mid charging. Though provided in a different configuration, the top five connections of the Type 2 connector can be used to provide the charging and signaling functionality of the Type 1 connector (i.e., the L1 and N connections may be used to perform Level 1 or Level 2 AC charging, CP and PP connections are provided for communication/signaling and the PE connection provides protective earth). In addition, the Type 2 connector includes an L2 and L3 connection that together with the L1 and N connection can provide three-phase AC charging (using L1, L2 and L3 as the three-phase AC line connections and the N connection as neutral), DC-low charging (using the L3 and L2 connection for DC+ and DC−, respectively, which can be combined with single-phase AC charging using the N and L1 connections) and DC-mid (using the N and L3 connections for DC+ and the L1 and L2 connection for DC−).FIG.2Dillustrates a CCS charging connector127B comprising combination socket-connections127B a and127Bb and a CCS port connector117B comprising combination plug-connections117B a and117Bb, referred to as Combo 2 connectors. The Combo 2 connectors add the two high current DC connections (DC+ and DC−) for fast DC charging.

Hybrid dispenser120may include any number or type of connectors127, either via a connector127on the terminal end of an electrical cable128that is permanently connected to hybrid dispenser120(e.g., as illustrated inFIG.4A), and/or via a connector127provided on housing121to which an electrical cable having connectors on both ends can be connected (e.g., as illustrated inFIG.4B), to provide the desired charging capabilities for a given implementation of a hybrid dispenser, including any of the connectors illustrated inFIGS.2A-2D. The number and types of connectors127of a given hybrid dispenser implementation may be chosen to meet the needs of the hybrid dispenser and may depend on the country or region in which the hybrid dispenser120is to be deployed and/or the intended use for which hybrid dispenser120is designed (e.g., at a fueling station, an office building, residential home, etc.). The one or more connectors127may be female connectors, male connectors, or a combination of both, to meet the design requirements of the hybrid dispenser.

In addition to dispensing hydrogen gas and providing electrical power, hybrid dispenser120is configured to receive electrical power from the EV (e.g., from the battery of a BEV or PFCEV and/or from the power system of a PFCEV that is connected to both the fuel cell system and the battery system of the vehicle, as discussed in further detail below). As indicated by the bi-directional arrows between hybrid dispenser120and EVs100band100cillustrated inFIGS.4A and4B, electrical power can be delivered from hybrid dispenser120to an EV via a connector127for charging and electrical power can be received by hybrid dispenser120from an EV via a same or different connector127when the EV is being utilized as an electrical power provider. In this way, hybrid dispenser120is capable of bi-directional power exchange with EVs, facilitating the use of EVs as power sources. For example, hybrid dispenser120is capable of utilizing PFCEV100cas a mobile generator fueled by hydrogen gas, examples of which are described in further detail below. To implement bi-directional power exchange, hybrid dispenser120may include one or more bi-directional connectors127and/or one or more connectors127that are dedicated for either delivering or receiving power, respectively.

As illustrated inFIGS.3A-3C, EVs configured for both receiving electrical power for charging and for providing electrical power stored in the EV's battery may implement this bi-directional capability in a number of ways. For example, as illustrated inFIG.3A, an EV may include an electrical port having a male inlet connector117ifor receiving electrical power to charge battery313and a female outlet connector117ofor providing electrical power from battery313.FIG.3Billustrates an electrical port117B with similar separate inlet and outlet connectors117iand117o, but where both connectors are male.FIG.3Cillustrates an electrical port117C having a bi-directional male connector117i-othat can be configured to both receive electrical power for charging battery313and provide electrical power from battery313. The EV may be configured to switch between a charging mode and a generator mode in any suitable way.

It should be appreciated that the connectors illustratedFIGS.3A-3Crepresent connectors generally and are not intended to specify any particular connector-type or standard, nor do the schematic illustrations limit the type of connectors that may be used and accommodated by a hybrid dispenser. Additionally, for each of the exemplary electrical ports inFIGS.3A-3B, the illustrated male and female connectors may be the opposite of what is illustrated, for example, depending on the standard adopted for different regions/countries, etc. Additionally, the electrical ports illustrated inFIGS.3A-3Care illustrated as connecting to the EV's battery, but the electrical ports may alternatively or additionally be connected to a fuel cell system of the vehicle or a power system of the vehicle that is coupled to the battery system of the vehicle, the fuel cell system of the vehicle, or both, depending on the design of the vehicle. Thus,FIGS.3A-3Cillustrate different configurations of electrical ports through which electrical power can be provided to and received from the vehicle independent of how the internal power system of the vehicle is implemented.

Thus, a hybrid dispenser120may include connector(s)127to allow for bi-directional power exchange with any of the exemplary electrical ports illustrated or any type of electrical port that may be adopted. In particular, hybrid dispenser120may be configured with one more bi-directional connectors127and/or one or more dedicated connectors127for providing and receiving electrical power, respectively, to provide desired charging capabilities and to receive electrical power according to one or more different electrical port configurations provided by EV manufacturers. Different hybrid dispensers120may be configured in different ways to suit the needs of a particular implementation. The capability of hybrid dispenser120to exchange electrical power bi-directionally facilitates utilizing PFCEVs as a power source and, more particularly, as a mobile generator fueled by hydrogen gas to provide renewable power as needed, for example, to power one or more dispensers, a fueling station, building, residential homes, to support electrical infrastructure, to provide power back to the utility grid (e.g., for grid stabilization), etc., some examples of which are discussed in further detail below.

Thus, according to some embodiments, hybrid dispenser120may be configured to provide electrical power to connector(s)127in a first mode (e.g., to charge one or more batteries of an EV) and may be configured to receive electrical power from connectors127in a second mode (e.g., to receive power from one or more batteries of an EV), which electrical power may be used to power one or more electrical components, stored in one or more electrical storage devices, provided to one or more electrical networks (e.g., a local mains electricity network, a secondary electrical network, the utility grid, etc.). Because PFCEVs comprise multiple energy systems, i.e., a fuel cell system and a battery system, hybrid dispenser120may utilize PFCEVs as a mobile electric power generator for extended periods of time well beyond the storage capacity of the battery by fueling the PFCEV with hydrogen gas that in turn can be converted to electrical power by the PFCEV's fuel cell system and provided to recharge the battery or provided externally via the vehicle's electrical port. Hybrid dispenser120may be used to refuel and/or recharge vehicles for industrial applications (e.g., forklifts, industrial equipment, off-road vehicles, etc.), light duty vehicles (e.g., passenger cars and trucks) and/or medium or heavy-duty vehicles (e.g., busses, freight or long-haul trucks, etc.).

In particular, as illustrated inFIG.4C, hybrid dispenser120includes one or more hydrogen gas nozzles125to dispense hydrogen gas from hydrogen gas source105to a fuel tank of PFCEV110c, and further comprises one or more connectors127configured to receive electrical power from EVs (which may be the same or different connector(s)127configured to provide electrical power to charge EV batteries in a charging mode), as discussed above in connection withFIGS.4A and4B. As mentioned in connection withFIGS.1D and1E, PFCEV100cincludes a fuel tank for storing hydrogen gas that can be accessed and refueled by engaging a nozzle125with a cooperating receptacle of the fuel tank. Some FCEVs include multiple receptacles that can engage with multiple nozzles for simultaneously refueling the vehicle (e.g., heavy duty vehicles such as busses, freight trucks, etc., with large capacity tanks to facilitate faster refueling).

PFCEV110calso includes an electrical port117having one or more connectors to receive electrical power to charge battery213(e.g., via a connector127of hybrid dispenser120). As also discussed above in connection withFIGS.1D and1E, hydrogen stored in the fuel tank is provided to the hydrogen fuel cell system145(e.g., a hydrogen fuel cell stack) that converts hydrogen gas to electricity that can be used to power the motor of vehicle (or any other electrical components) and/or charge battery213. Charge stored in battery213can likewise be used to power the motor or other electrical components of the vehicle. In this way, PFCEV100can be operated using hydrogen fuel cell145(e.g., operated in the manner of a FCEV), operated using battery213(e.g., operated in the manner of a BEV), or operated using both fuel cell system145and battery213as the electrical power source to operate the vehicle.

PFCEV100cillustrated inFIG.4Cis also configured to provide electrical power via electrical port117. For simplicity, electrical port117is illustrated as including a single bi-directional connector that provides received electrical power to charge battery213in a first mode of operation (e.g., a charging mode) and provides electrical power from battery213or fuel cell system145in a second mode of operation (e.g., a generator mode during which PFCEV100cis being used as an electrical power provider). However, electrical port117may include multiple connectors in any configuration, including bi-directional connector(s) and/or separate connectors for receiving power to charge battery213and to provide power from battery213(e.g., any of the configurations illustrated inFIGS.3A-3Cor any other suitable electrical port configuration that provides both electrical inlet and outlet capabilities). In addition, electrical port117is illustrated as connected to battery213, but electrical port117may be additionally connected to fuel cell system145to provide electrical power from the fuel cell system145to the hybrid dispenser.

According to some embodiments, electrical port117may be coupled to the power system of PFCEV100cconfigured to draw power from both fuel cell system145and battery213to operate the vehicle as discussed above. When the vehicle is utilized as an electrical power source, the electrical power provided via electrical port117is receive from the power system, which may provide electrical power from fuel cell system145, battery213, or both. Accordingly, depending on the design of the vehicle, the electrical power received from the vehicle may be from the fuel cell system145, the battery213, or both. Thus, receiving electrical power from a vehicle as used herein means receiving electrical power from any one or combination of electrical power sources of the vehicle.

In this manner, both hybrid dispenser120and PFCEV100care configured to operate in two modes: (1) as a power source that delivers electrical power to the other; or (2) as a power receiver that receives power from the other. In the exemplary second mode illustrated inFIG.4C, an appropriate connector127is connected to a corresponding connector on electrical port117of PFCEV100cto receive electrical power from the vehicle, some of which may then be provided to one or more electrical power receivers1250. Thus, hybrid dispenser120is capable of utilizing PFCEV100cas a power source to provide power where needed, for example, to power the hybrid dispenser itself, to power one or more other dispensers or charging stations, to provide power to electrical infrastructure (e.g., the local mains electrical network, the utility grid, etc.) to provide power in response to an event that results power loss or instability or to support electrical infrastructure during periods of high demands.

Because hybrid dispenser120can both dispense hydrogen gas to the fuel tank of PFCEV100cand receive electrical power from the PFCEV, hybrid dispenser can effectively utilize PFCEV100cas a power source for extended periods (e.g., as long as hybrid dispenser120has hydrogen gas available from hydrogen gas source105), even in circumstances where a power failure event effects hybrid dispenser120. Specifically, as hybrid dispenser120draws electrical power from the vehicle, hydrogen gas can be dispensed to PFCEV100c, which in turn can be converted to electricity by hydrogen fuel cell system145that may be used to charge battery213so that battery213can continue to deliver electrical power to hybrid dispenser120, or electrical power generated by hydrogen fuel cell system145may be provided directly to the hybrid dispenser via the electrical port (e.g., via the vehicle's power system) and bypass battery213, or electrical power from both battery213and fuel cell system145may be provided to the hybrid dispenser via the connection at the electrical port. Hybrid dispenser120may then deliver the power received from the vehicle to any electrical power receiver1250in need of electrical power.

A small amount of the power received from PFCEV100cmay be used to power the electrical components of hybrid dispenser120needed to dispense hydrogen gas to PFCEV100cto continue the process in a self-sustaining loop of energy conversion and electrical power delivery. The remaining electrical power received by hybrid dispenser120from PFCEV100ccan be distributed to one or more other electrical energy receivers, including electrical storage devices, electrical components, electrical infrastructure, etc. It should be appreciated that hydrogen gas source105may include any one or combination of hydrogen gas sources. For example, hydrogen gas source105may include one or more hydrogen storage tanks provided external to hybrid dispenser120(e.g., using any of the hydrogen gas storage systems described in the '568 publication) and/or may include one or more hydrogen storage tanks internal to hybrid dispenser120(e.g., as in standalone appliances described in the '062 patent in which internal tanks are replenished with a built-in electrolysis system, for example). Hydrogen gas source105may also include a transportable hydrogen gas source (e.g., a tube trailer as discussed below) that can be brought in to support extended periods of utilizing one or more PFCEVs as mobile electrical generators (e.g., in the event of an extended power outage). Example methods of a hybrid dispenser utilizing PFCEVs as a mobile generator are described in connection withFIGS.5-9.

FIG.5illustrates an exemplary method500at least partially performed by a hybrid dispenser having at least one first hydrogen gas nozzle configured to dispense hydrogen gas and at least one electrical connector configured to provide and/or receive electrical power, in accordance with some embodiments. In act510, an electrical connection is made between an electrical connector of the hybrid dispenser and a connector of a vehicle capable of delivering power from one or more batteries of the vehicle. For example, a connector provided on the terminal end of an electrical cable connected to the hybrid dispenser may be plugged into a reciprocal connector provided on the electrical port of the vehicle that is configured to provide electrical power from the vehicle (e.g., a bi-directional connector or connector dedicated for providing electrical power from the vehicle's battery, fuel cell system, etc.). As another example, an electrical cable having connectors at both ends may be plugged into a connector (e.g., a socket outlet) provided by the hybrid dispenser (e.g., on the dispenser housing) and plugged into the vehicle's connector configured to deliver electrical power. In act520, electrical power is received by the hybrid dispenser from the vehicle via the electrical connection between the hybrid dispenser connector and the vehicle connector.

In act530, at least some of the electrical power received by the hybrid dispenser is provided to one or more electrical power receivers to provide electrical power thereto. For example, the one or more electrical power receivers may include any one or combination of an electrical component or collection of electrical components, electrical infrastructure, a power distribution network, electrical storage device, etc., exemplary embodiments of which are discussed in further detail below. In this manner, the hybrid dispenser can utilize the vehicle as a source of electrical power, for example, as a mobile generator to provide power to electrical power receivers in need, such as during electrical disturbance, power failure and/or during periods of grid instability or periods of high demand, though the aspects of utilizing a vehicle to provide power is not limited to any particular event or set of circumstances.

In act515, a hydrogen gas nozzle of the hybrid dispenser is engaged with a hydrogen gas fuel tank of the vehicle. For example, the vehicle may be a PFCEV having one or more hydrogen fuel cells configured to convert hydrogen gas to electrical energy to provide power to the vehicle (e.g., the motor and/or one or more electrical components of the vehicle) and to provide electrical power to the one or more batteries of the vehicle (e.g., to charge the battery system of the vehicle). According to some embodiments, more than one hydrogen gas nozzle is engaged with a vehicle. In particular, some vehicles may include more than one receptacle through which the vehicle can be refueled simultaneously as is often the case with medium or heavy-duty vehicles with large storage capacities (e.g., busses, large trucks, etc.) to facilitate faster refueling of such vehicles. However, any type of vehicle may include multiple receptacles and multiple nozzles may be engaged with such vehicles in act515. In act525, hydrogen gas is dispensed from the hybrid dispenser to the vehicle via the one or more hydrogen gas nozzles engaged with the vehicle.

In act535, the hydrogen fuel cell system of the vehicle provides electrical power to the power system (e.g., the battery system or the power system to which the battery and the fuel cell system are connected) from which the hybrid dispenser receives electrical power. In this manner, hybrid dispenser can both receive power from the vehicle (e.g., the battery system, the fuel cell system or both) and dispense hydrogen gas to the vehicle that can in turn be converted by the vehicle's fuel cell system to electrical power to charge the battery or provided to hybrid dispenser via the electrical port (e.g., via the vehicle's power system that routes the electrical power to the electrical port from the battery, the fuel cell system, or both), thus allowing the hybrid dispenser to utilize the vehicle as an electrical power source for an extended period of time, e.g., as a renewable mobile generator.

The exemplary acts of method500illustrated inFIG.5can be performed in any suitable or desired order. For example, in some embodiments, acts510-530are initiated and performed first and acts515-535are initiated and performed subsequently, e.g., shortly thereafter, when the one or more batteries need charging and/or when it is otherwise desirable to begin recharging of the one or more batteries that are delivering electrical power. In some embodiments, acts515-535are initiated and performed first and acts510-530are initiated and performed subsequently, e.g., shortly thereafter, when the one or more batteries are sufficiently charged, when the hydrogen fuel tank has been filled, etc. In some embodiments, acts510-530and acts515-535are initiated and performed substantially concurrently. Independent of which acts are initiated first or concurrently, any of the acts may continue to be performed concurrently, or any of the acts may be performed iteratively or in alternation.

For example, according to some embodiments, hydrogen gas may be dispensed to the fuel tank of the vehicle until the fuel tank is full, after which act525ends (and the hydrogen gas nozzle may be disengaged with the vehicle). The fuel cell system may convert hydrogen gas to electrical power during and after the fuel tank is being filled, or act535may be initiated only after the fuel tank is filled with hydrogen. Similarly, the hybrid dispenser may receive electrical power from the vehicle (act520) concurrently with dispensing hydrogen gas to the vehicle (independent of which act was initiated first) or any of the exemplary acts may be alternated and/or performed iteratively as needed or desired. For example, the hybrid dispenser may dispense hydrogen gas (act525) for a period of time, cease dispensing hydrogen gas (e.g., when the fuel tank is full) and resume dispensing hydrogen gas again (e.g., when the fuel tank is low) any number of times while electrical power is being received from the vehicle (act520). As another example, hybrid dispenser may dispense hydrogen gas (act525) at low flow rates throughout (or through an extended period of time) when electrical power is being received from the vehicle (e.g., to facilitate ambient hydrogen gas refueling), which low flow rate fills may also be initiated, terminated and repeated as desired. Likewise, any of the acts in method500can be performed sequentially, concurrently, iteratively and/or in alternation, as the aspects of the hybrid dispenser utilizing the vehicle as an electrical power source are not limited in this respect. According to some embodiments, the hybrid dispenser's controller is configured to automatically perform, terminate and/or repeat the acts of method500based on desired functionality. For example, one or more nozzles may be engaged with the vehicle (act515) one or more electrical connectors may be connected to the vehicle (act510) and the hybrid dispenser controller automatically determines when to dispense hydrogen gas (and at what flow rates), when to charge the vehicle and/or when to receive electrical power from the vehicle, etc. The hybrid dispenser may be configured to automatically control method500based on any number of factors or criteria, some examples of which are discussed in further detail below.

FIG.6illustrates a method600of a hybrid dispenser utilizing a PFCEV as an electrical power generator, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown, method600comprises acts that may be the same or similar to the acts described in connection with method500illustrated inFIG.5. Act630is a specific example of act530in which electrical power received by the hybrid dispenser (act520) is provided to one or more electrical power receivers that includes one or more dispensers, for example, the hybrid dispenser itself and/or one or more additional dispensers, which themselves may be hybrid dispensers, hydrogen gas dispensers, electric charging stations and/or petroleum-based dispensers (e.g., gasoline, diesel, etc.). In this way, the hybrid dispenser and/or one or more additional dispensers can operate using power received from the vehicle to which the hybrid dispenser is connected, for example, in the event of a power failure at the power provider from which the hybrid dispenser normally receives power. As a result, even in the event of power loss or disturbance in the electrical infrastructure providing power to the hybrid dispenser (e.g., the mains electrical infrastructure of a fueling station, building or building complex, parking garage, residential home or residential complex, etc.), hybrid dispenser (and any other dispenser) can continue to operate via power received by the hybrid dispenser from the vehicle to which the hybrid dispenser is connected.

Because the amount of electrical power required by the hybrid dispenser to continue the hydrogen gas dispensing operation is significantly less than the energy in the hydrogen gas being dispensed and converted to electrical power by the vehicle's fuel cell system, net electrical power is produced while hydrogen gas is available that can be used to power other dispensers or other electrical power receivers affected by the loss of power (e.g., hydrogen gas cooling systems, pumps, etc.). Some electrical power received by the hybrid dispenser can be stored (e.g., in one or more electrical storage devices, such as one or more batteries within or connected to the hybrid dispenser, one or more connected uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), etc.) and drawn from as needed, including by electric charging stations to recharge the batteries of other electric vehicles and/or some electrical power received by the hybrid dispenser can be directly distributed to other dispensers servicing other vehicles, used to provide power to operate other electrical components as needed.

FIG.7illustrates a method700of a hybrid dispenser utilizing a PFCEV as an electrical power generator, in accordance with some embodiments. As shown, method700also comprises acts that may be the same or similar to the acts described in connection with method500illustrated inFIG.5. Act730is another example of performing act530in which electrical power received by the hybrid dispenser (act520) is provided to electrical infrastructure that normally provides electrical power to a facility to which a hybrid dispenser is associated (e.g., a fueling station, a building or building complex, residential homes, a factory or industrial complex, etc.). Such facilities typically include electrical infrastructure (e.g., a mains electrical power network) connected to the grid to provide electrical power to electrical power receivers of the facility that are connected to the electrical infrastructure (e.g., lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), household, large or industrial appliances, computer networks, etc.). For example, a mains electrical network typically have one or more connections to the grid (e.g., a single-phase or three-phase hook-up to the grid) and power electronics (e.g., power converters) to convert electrical power received from the grid to distribute electrical power at the voltage/current levels needed by the facility (e.g., according to local, regional or national electrical power standards, or according to a proprietary standard needed by a particular facility, such as specialized industrial complexes, factories, etc.).

By utilizing hybrid dispenser techniques discussed above (e.g., by performing method700), the electrical power infrastructure servicing a facility at which one or more hybrid dispensers are located can be made resilient by providing electrical power received from PFCEVs to the electrical infrastructure when an event within the local power network (e.g., the mains electrical network) or at the utility grid results in loss of power. During the event (e.g., a power outage), electrical power received by one or more hybrid dispensers from one or more PFCEVs may be provided to the electrical infrastructure to operate one or more electrical components connected thereto in much the same way as an auxiliary power generator steps in to provide electrical power in the event the primary power source is disrupted (e.g., a disturbance or failure at some location on the grid, local failure at the local mains electrical network, etc.). In this way, the electrical power infrastructure of a fueling station, office building or complex, parking garage, residential complex or individual residential home can be made resilient and one or more electronic components connected to the electrical infrastructure can continue receiving power during a power outage or disturbance.

FIG.8illustrates a method800that utilizes hybrid dispenser techniques to assist in stabilization of the utility grid. Typical utility grids comprise one or more power producers (e.g., fossil fuel power plants and/or one or more renewable energy power producers such wind or solar, such as a wind turbine farm, a solar panel farm etc.), a primary transmission network (e.g., the grid backbone) and a plurality of secondary (or tertiary, etc.) electrical power networks (such as the example electrical power infrastructure described above) that operate as intermediary or terminal electrical power providers (e.g., a mains electrical network of a building, home, etc.). Events anywhere on the grid can impact the delivery of power to any one or combination of the electrical power networks connected to the grid. For example, lightning strikes may cause the grid to be unstable or result in power loss. Storms or other natural disasters may result in wide-spread power outages or partial grid collapse. Excessive demand from one or more electrical power networks can also cause the grid to be unstable.

As shown, method700also comprises acts that may be the same or similar to the acts described in connection with method500illustrated inFIG.5. In act830of method800, one or more hybrid dispensers are configured to receive electrical power from PFCEVs and provide electrical power back to the grid, providing electrical power to stabilize the grid until the cause of the disruption can be resolved. In addition, during peak demand on the utility grid, hybrid dispenser techniques described above (e.g., method800) may be employed to provide power from one or more PFCEVs to reduce the load on the grid, to provide power back to the grid to assist the power grid in handling periods of high demand and/or to utilize PFCEVs as a power source during periods where grid power usage rates are high as a way of reducing costs.

In this way, hybrid dispenser techniques can be used to provide auxiliary power generation, contribute to grid stabilization and/or assist in avoiding grid collapse, contribute to power production during periods of high demand and/or to deliver cost effective power during times when grid power rates are high. Any of the above-described hybrid dispenser techniques may be used alone or in any combination to utilize PFCEVs as an alternate power source (e.g., as a mobile generator). Any of the above-described methods may be performed using a single hybrid dispenser connected to one or more PFCEVs, or multiple hybrid dispenser connected to one or more PFCEVs to provide a network of mobile generators, as the aspects are not limited in this respect. It should be appreciated that hybrid dispensers described herein may also be used to receive power from BEVs, but the duration for which a BEV can operate as a mobile generator will be capped by the capacity of the battery if fully charged and further limited in duration if not. Any of the above-described methods or acts of the methods may be performed by one or more controllers of the hybrid dispenser implemented in any suitable way using any combination of hardware and/or software controllers, examples of which are described in further detail below.

FIG.9illustrates a system comprising a transportable hydrogen supply to facilitate utilizing one or more PFCEVs as mobile generators that can be used to provide power at virtually any desired location. In particular, system900comprises a transportable or mobile hydrogen supply905. In exemplary system900, the transportable hydrogen supply is shown as a tube trailer906that can be, for example, attached to a semitruck, tractor-trailer or other suitable freight truck or rig that can pull the tube trailer906to desired locations. It should be appreciated that transportable or mobile hydrogen supply may be any suitable type of transportable tank or tanks configured to store hydrogen gas, or may include a dedicated tanker vehicle, etc., as the aspects are not limited to any particular type of transportable or mobile hydrogen gas supply nor to any particular mode of transporting the hydrogen supply.

System900further comprises a PFCEV1100comprising hydrogen fuel cell system145(e.g., a hydrogen fuel cell stack or other component or components configured to convert hydrogen gas into electricity) and battery213(or a battery system comprising multiple batteries) coupled to the hydrogen fuel cell system145, one or both of which is externally accessible via electrical port117in the manner discussed above. As also discussed above, vehicle1100is configured to have a mode in which electrical power can be provided from the vehicle via a connector provided on electrical port117(e.g., a same or different connector by which battery213can be charged). In system900, an electrical connection is made between PFCEV1100and one or more electrical power receivers1250via an electrical cord or cable having a connector at one end configured to mate with a connector on the vehicle's electrical port117and a connector on the other end configured to mate with a connector of one or more power receivers1250or an intermediary electronic component to which one or more power receivers1250can be connected (e.g., a surge protector, power strip, adapter or adapter cable, etc.).

In this way, the electrical connection between PFCEV1100and target power receiver(s) may be made by daisy-chaining one or more components having the appropriate connectors necessary to deliver power to the desired power receivers(s)1250. For example, an electrical cable having a connector configured to mate with a connector provided on electrical port117and a socket connector on the other end configured to receive standard two or three prong plugs (or any type of plug) may be used to allow a direct plug-in connection to target power receivers1250, or to connect to an adapter, power strip having multiple electrical connectors of same or different types, a power converter, etc., capable of connecting to and providing electrical power from the PFCEV1100to target power receiver(s) at rated power levels. The terminal end of the electrical cable may alternatively have a plug connector adapted to directly plug into target power receivers1250or to plug into adapters, power strips or supplies, power converters, etc. that are adapted to connect to target power receivers1250. Power receivers1250may be, for example, any one or combination of electrical components (e.g., electrical equipment such as battery-powered generators (to extend the duration in which they can be operated), pumps, electrical appliances, medical equipment, rescue equipment, lighting, etc.), electrical infrastructure that has experienced power loss or disruption, etc.

Transportable/mobile hydrogen supply905includes one or more means for dispensing the stored hydrogen gas (not shown) to PFCEVs, for example, one or more hoses and nozzles configured to engage with and deliver hydrogen gas to the fuel tank of one or more PFCEV1100. Hydrogen supply905may include multiple nozzles of the same type or multiple nozzles of different types to allow hydrogen gas to be dispensed to a wide variety of different types of PFCEVs. In this way, hydrogen supply905and any number of PFCEVs can be transported to locations in which electrical power is needed. For example, system900can be deployed to provide electrical power to emergency aid or rescue operations, disaster relief and recovery installations, emergency or disaster shelters, etc., in circumstances where electrical power is needed, in locations that are not connected to the grid and/or have no available power source, or at locations where the electrical infrastructure has failed (e.g., as a result of a natural disaster or other grid disturbance or failure.). Thus, a transportable/mobile hydrogen supply can be employed to utilize PFCEVs as an electrical power source in numerous contexts, in a wide variety of circumstances and at virtually any location. Because transportable/mobile hydrogen gas supply905can be replaced with another transportable/mobile hydrogen gas supply905in the event hydrogen gas is exhausted, system900can be used as a mobile power source for extended durations when and if needed (e.g., not only in emergency, rescue or disaster scenarios, but to provide electrical power to or in support of construction sites where electrical infrastructure has not yet been installed, pop-up venues such as off-the-grid music concerts, festivals or events, temporary military bases, etc.).

FIGS.10A-10Dillustrate example implementations of hybrid dispensers configured to utilize EVs as an electric power source, in accordance with some embodiments. Like the hybrid dispensers discussed above, hybrid dispenser1020comprises one or more hydrogen gas nozzles125for dispensing hydrogen gas and one or more connectors127configured to exchange electrical power with EVs (e.g., BEV100b, PFCEV100c), which connector(s) may be provided on the terminal end of an electrical cable128as shown inFIG.10Aand/or provided on housing121as shown inFIG.10Band may be provided in any of the configurations discussed above or in any other suitable configuration to facilitate bi-directional exchange of electrical power.

As illustrated inFIG.10, hybrid dispenser1020comprises hybrid dispenser controller140configured to control various operations of the hybrid dispenser. Dispenser controller140may be a single controller or multiple controllers that are communicatively coupled together. Dispenser controller140may be configured to control the dispensing of hydrogen gas during a hydrogen gas fueling event, for example, by controlling the flow rate of hydrogen gas delivered to the fuel tank of a vehicle (e.g., FCEV100a, PFCEV100c, etc.) according to desired fueling protocols. Dispenser controller140may be configured to also control aspects of the delivery of electrical power to an EV via electrical connector(s)127during a charging event and aspects of receiving electrical power from an EV when the EV is being utilized as an electrical power source by controlling (e.g., configuring) dispenser electronics system130. Dispenser controller140may be configured to control the operation of a dual fueling and charging event and/or control the operation of a hydrogen gas fueling event while a PFCEV is being utilized as an electrical power source. Dispenser controller140may also be configured to communicate with one or more communication networks and/or to communicate with a vehicle via one or more communication connections established with the vehicle to exchange information to facilitate a fueling event, a charging event and/or utilizing an EV as an electrical power source (e.g., in a generator mode). The one or multiple controllers forming dispenser controller140may be implemented in any suitable way, including as one or any combination of one or more processors, microcontrollers, application specific integrated circuits (ASICS), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc., or any other suitable software and/or hardware controllers, as the aspects are not limited for use with any particular dispenser controller configuration or implementation.

Hybrid dispenser1020further comprises dispenser electronics130that may include power electronics, connectors, electrical circuitry, etc., that allow electrical power to be exchanged bi-directionally between hybrid dispenser1020and EVs (e.g., BEV100b, PFCEV100c, etc.). For example, power electronics system130may include one or more power ports to receive electrical power from one or more electrical power providers (e.g., the utility grid, local mains electrical infrastructure, power distribution system, UPS devices, etc.) such as an electrical storage device), may include power electronics to perform any desired or needed power conversion and may include electronic circuitry to provide AC and DC electrical power at the appropriate voltage/current levels to corresponding connectors127of hybrid dispenser1020. Dispenser electronics may further include power electronics and electrical circuitry to receive electrical power via corresponding connector(s)127and perform any desired or needed power conversion to provide electrical power to one or more power receivers (e.g., hybrid dispenser1020, one or more other dispensers or charging stations, an EV via a connector127different than the connector127via which power is being received, electronic components, electrical infrastructure, etc.). Dispenser controller140may be configured to control power electronics system130to perform charging events, to receive electrical power from EVs to perform any of the mobile generator methods discussed above (e.g., methods500-800discussed in connection withFIGS.5-8, respectively) and/or to perform dual charging and receive operations.

Hybrid dispenser1020may be located at any of a variety of desired locations, including a roadside station (which may include one or more additional hybrid dispensers, one or more hydrogen dispensers and/or one or more electric charging stations), in proximity to a building or complex (e.g., in the parking lot of an office building or complex, shopping mall, event venue, etc.), in a parking garage, in a residential community or at an individual residence. The refueling/recharging capabilities of hybrid dispenser1020may be tailored according to the needs and demands of its deployment (e.g., the demands of a hybrid dispenser at a roadside fueling station vs. a residential home). For example, a hybrid dispenser1020at a fueling station may be configured to provide single-phase AC charging, three-phase AC charging and fast DC charging and may be configured with the corresponding dispenser electronics system130and connectors127to allow for charging at any of those levels. A hybrid dispenser1020designed for home use may provide single-phase AC charging and include dispenser electronics system130and corresponding connectors127to allow for single-phase AC charging (e.g., using electrical power from the mains electrical network).

As another example, a hybrid dispenser1020designed for home use may include connector(s)127provided on the housing121of the dispenser that can deliver electrical power at a desired combination of different charging levels depending on the electrical cable that is plugged into the connector(s). In this way, an EV owner can obtain an electrical cable having connectors at each end of the electrical cable to plug into a corresponding connector127of hybrid dispenser1020and to plug into the owner's specific EV for charging and/or receiving electrical power from the EV. The electrical cable can be replaced (or adapters added) should an EV owner purchase a different EV having different connectors/charging capabilities, or an EV configured to provide electrical power differently, and/or multiple electrical cables can be obtained for EV owners with multiple EVs. A public hybrid dispenser1020may include one or more connectors127provided on electrical cable(s) that are permanently connected to the hybrid dispenser1020and may additionally include one or more connectors127provided on the dispenser housing121that allow EV owners to use their own cable connections for charging and/or for delivery of electrical power.

As another example, a hybrid dispenser1020for private use (e.g., home use, residential complex use) may be configured as a standalone hydrogen dispenser with internal tank(s) that can be refilled via internal electrolyzer units connected to the local power source and water supply (e.g., like example hydrogen dispensers and hybrid dispensers disclosed in the '062 patent), whereas a public hybrid dispenser1020(e.g., at a fueling station, office complex, etc.) may be connected to an external hydrogen gas source and may be also be connected to a hydrogen cooling system (e.g., any of the hydrogen dispensing systems described in the '568 publication). However, it should be appreciated that while hybrid dispenser1020can be designed with features that meet the specific needs of its deployments, any of the hydrogen dispensing, electrical charging and electrical receiving features may be implemented on a hybrid dispenser independent of its deployment, as the aspects are not limited in this respect.

Hybrid dispenser1020may also include interface122(e.g., any one or combination of a display, keypad, payment interface, voice interface, etc.) via which users can interact with hybrid dispenser1020, for example, to select the type of desired dispensing to be performed (e.g., hydrogen gas refueling, electric charging, or both), provide payments, etc. Interface122may also provide information to the user, such as current hydrogen gas levels (or other tank parameters of the vehicle), current battery charge, duration of available fueling events (e.g., time required to refuel a hydrogen gas fuel tank according to available fueling protocols, such as ambient or chilled dispensing, time required to charge the battery according to the one or more available charging levels), status of a current refueling event (e.g., an indicator of the percentage of completion, time remaining until completion of a tank refill and/or battery re-charge, etc.). Interface122may also be used to switch the hybrid dispenser from a first operating mode in which electrical power is provided to an EV to a second operating mode in which electrical power is received from an EV. It should be appreciated that switching from a first operating mode to a second operating mode may be performed automatically by the hybrid dispenser in response to one or more events (e.g., detection of power loss in a primary provider, determination of high demand or high usage rates on the grid, detection of the engagement of a connector dedicated to receive power or engagement to a vehicle connector dedicated to providing electrical power, signaling from an EV via the connector or via another communication channel established with the EV, etc.).

FIG.10Cillustrates a hybrid dispenser1020comprising a dispenser controller140implemented in accordance with some embodiments. In particular, the exemplary dispenser controller140comprises a hydrogen gas controller142, an electric power controller144and a communication controller146. It should be appreciated that the different controllers illustrated inFIG.10Cas forming dispenser controller140illustrate different control functionality or modules that may be implemented as a single controller or as multiple controllers that are communicatively coupled together to control operations of hybrid dispenser1020, as the aspects are not limited by the way in which dispenser controller140is implemented. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG.10C, hydrogen gas controller142is configured to initiate, control the operation of, and terminate a hydrogen gas fueling event. In particular, hydrogen gas controller142may control the operation of one or more valves123that govern hydrogen flow through nozzle(s)125and into the fuel tank of a vehicle during a fueling event.

Hydrogen gas controller142may also be coupled to one or more sensors124(e.g., one or more pressure sensors, one or more flow rate sensors, one or more temperature sensors, etc.) to receive sensor signals that controller142uses to control the flow of hydrogen gas from a hydrogen gas source (which may be provided internal to hybrid dispenser1020, external to hybrid dispenser1020, or both) according to a desired fueling protocol and/or to ensure the safe dispensing of hydrogen gas during the fueling event. Sensor(s)124may comprise any one or combination of the above-described exemplary sensors provided upstream of dispenser valve(s)123, downstream from dispenser valve(s)123, or both. Hydrogen gas controller142may be configured to control the operation of other components of hybrid dispenser1020that may be present in a given hybrid dispenser implementation (e.g., one or more compressors, electrolyzer units, etc.). Hydrogen gas controller142may be configured to perform any of the hydrogen gas dispensing control techniques described in the '062 patent and/or '568 publication using any of the valve systems described therein (e.g., a bank of fixed-sized valves, a variable-sized valve, etc.) to control the flow rate of hydrogen delivered to the fuel tank according to desired fueling protocol(s), either in connection with ambient temperature fueling events or chilled hydrogen gas fueling events. Hydrogen gas controller142may be configured to perform any safety checks needed prior to initiating a fueling event (e.g., safety checks for combustible gas, ambient temperature checks, cooling system checks if hydrogen pre-cooling is used), may be configured to monitor the fueling event to safely control the fueling event and/or terminate the fueling event, etc. Hydrogen gas controller142may also be configured to receive information about the vehicle to determine an appropriate fueling protocol, for example, via communication controller146discussed in further detail below.

Dispenser controller140may further comprise electrical power controller144configured to control the delivery of power via connectors(s)127during a charging event (e.g., via charging controller144a) and configured to control the receiving of electrical power via connectors(s)127when an EV is utilized as an electrical power provider (e.g., via receive controller144bwhen an EV is being used as a mobile generator). For example, in a charging mode of operation, electric power controller144may be configured to engage the appropriate electronics of dispenser electronics system130that provide electrical power from an electrical power provider to an EV via the connector127plugged into the EV at the corresponding charging level (e.g., a charging level corresponding to connector127connected to the EV, a charging level selected by a user via interface122, a charging level determined by electric power controller144based on information received from the EV such as via communication controller146, signaling pins of the connectors, etc.). Charging controller144amay be configured to control the voltage/current levels delivered to the connector127connected to the EV to conduct a desired charging event.

Electrical power controller144may be further configured to control operation of dispenser electronics system130in a mode in which electrical power is received from one or more EVs via connectors(s)127. For example, electrical power controller144may be configured to switch the mode of operation of the hybrid dispenser1020from providing electrical power to connectors(s)127to perform EV charging to a mode in which electrical power is received from an EV via a connector127plugged into an EV (or connected to an EV via a removeable electrical cable), for example, by engaging electrical circuits of dispenser electronics system130configured to receive electrical power from one or more EVs via appropriate connector(s)127. Receive controller144bmay, for example, be configured to control how electrical power received from EVs is converted (if needed or desired), distributed and/or stored, by configuring dispenser electronics system130accordingly.

Electrical power controller144may be configured to control dispenser electronics system130in a dual mode in which electrical power is provided to a first EV via a first connector127and received from a second EV via a second connector127. For example, electrical power controller144may configure dispenser electronics system130to provide electrical power to the first EV via a first connector127connected to the first EV. The second EV may include a PFCEV and electrical power controller144may configure control dispenser electronics130to receive electrical power from the PFCEV via a second connector127connected to the PFCEV. Hydrogen gas controller may control the dispensing of hydrogen gas to a fuel tank of the PFCEV to be converted to electrical power by the PFCEVs fuel cell system. As such, electrical power controller144may be configured to control dispenser electronics system130to enable hybrid dispenser1020to exchange electrical power bi-directionally with EVs100in a charging mode, a receive mode or in a dual mode, and may be configured to control operations in conjunction with hydrogen gas controller to perform concurrent, separate or alternating fueling events, charging events and power receive events, examples of which were discussed above in connection with method500inFIG.5and in further detail below.

Dispenser controller140may further include communication controller146to facilitate information exchange between hybrid dispenser1020, vehicles100and/or one or more other devices that may be coupled to a network. For example, communication controller146may be coupled to one or more communication networks190(e.g., a local area network, controller area network, wide area network, the Internet, etc.) to which vehicles100are configured to communicate. For example, communication network(s)190may include vehicle-to-vehicle and/or vehicle-to-infrastructure communications (referred to as V2X) capabilities (e.g., dedicated short range communications (DSRC)), Wi-Fi, 5G or any other communication capabilities) and communication controller146may include one or more transmitters/receivers (transceivers) allowing connection to such communication networks, or may include a connection to one or more external communication devices having the necessary transceiver capabilities.

For example, communication controller146may include a roadside unit (RSU) configured to communicate with a vehicle100's on-board unit (OBUs) to perform V2X communications, or communication controller146may include a connection to an RSU external to dispenser1020(e.g., a connection to a fueling station's RSU via a local communication network190deployed at the fueling station) to receive V2X communications. Communication controller146may also be configured to connect to and communicate with the local Wi-Fi network associated with the hybrid dispenser (e.g., an office building or home network) to receive information that dispenser controller140may use to initiate a switch between operating modes (e.g., to communicate with smart home or smart building components) either automatically based on power conditions at the hybrid dispenser, under remote control (e.g., via a mobile device), etc.

Communication controller146may also be configured to establish one or more direct or one-to-one communication channels with vehicle100, for example, using one or more short-range communication protocols (e.g., Bluetooth), line-of-sight (LOS) or near-field communication protocols that can be configured to establish communication channels or connections between hybrid dispenser1020and vehicles100via transmitters/receivers coupled to or integrated in nozzle(s)125and/or connector(s)127and transmitters/receivers located near a vehicles fueling tank and/or vehicle connectors to establish a connection when the nozzle125/connector127is engaged with the vehicle (e.g., via infrared or radio frequency wireless communication channels), or via direct connections made when nozzle(s)125/connector(s)127are engaged with respective vehicles (e.g., via signaling/communication connections provided on the hybrid dispenser's and vehicle's connectors). Communication controller146may be configured to perform any one or combination of V2X techniques described in the '568 publication, including vehicle-to-nozzle pairing, bi-directional exchange of vehicle and dispenser information, etc. Communication controller146may also be configured to control charging events and power receiving events based on information exchanged between the electrical connectors on the hybrid dispenser and on an EV's electrical port.

In this way, communication controller146may be configured to receive vehicle information that is used to determine the type and capabilities of the vehicle to facilitate refueling and/or recharging the vehicle safely and efficiently, including information needed to perform safety checks before dispensing hydrogen gas for refueling and/or providing electrical power for charging, information used in coordinating operation of hybrid dispenser for dual hydrogen gas fueling and electric charging events, monitoring parameters of the vehicle during a fueling/charging event, etc. As illustrated by the arrows, hydrogen gas controller142, electrical power controller144and communication controller146are communicatively coupled to control operations of the hybrid dispenser either by virtue of being part of a single controller or by virtue of being implemented on multiple controllers that are communicatively coupled to each other.

FIG.10Dillustrates a hybrid dispenser1020comprising dispenser electronics system130implemented in accordance with some embodiments. As discussed above, dispenser electronics system130may include power electronics and electrical circuitry that allow electrical power to be exchanged bi-directionally between hybrid dispenser1020and EVs. As illustrated inFIG.10D, dispenser electronics system130may include transmit electronics135aconfigured to receive electrical power from one or more electrical power providers1200, perform any power conversion desired/needed and provide electrical power to the one or more connectors127in the desired power format (e.g., as AC or DC power at the desired voltage/current levels) for a given EV charging event. Dispenser electronics system130may additionally include receive electronics135bconfigured to receive power provided by an EV via one or more connectors127, perform any desired/needed power conversion, and provide electrical power to one or more electrical power receivers1250(e.g., any of the electrical power receivers discussed above in connection withFIGS.5-8, etc.). Transmit electronics135aand receive electronics135bmay share at least some electrical circuitry (e.g., transmit/receive electronics may share one or more electrical power components such as power converters, amplifiers, ports and/or electrical connections between one or more components of the hybrid dispenser), or may be substantially or entirely separate electronic circuits with their own respective sets of electronic components (e.g., power converters, switch networks, electrical connections, electrical ports, etc.).

Dispenser electronics130may include one or more switches that allow transmit electronics135aand/or receive electronics135bto be engaged and disengaged, connected/disconnected to and from any shared electrical circuitry and/or otherwise allows transmit electronics135ato operate in a charging mode, receive electronics135bto operate in a receive mode, or transmit electronics135aand receive electronics135bto operate in a dual charging and receive mode. Control of transmit electronics135aand receive electronics135b(e.g., operation of the one or more switches or switch network) may be performed by dispenser controller140(e.g., electrical power controller144illustrated inFIG.10C) to control the mode of operation of hybrid dispenser1020.

For example, in a first mode of operation (e.g., in a charging mode), dispenser controller140may configure dispenser electronics system130to receive electrical power from one or more electrical energy providers1200and provide electrical power to one or more connectors127by engaging transmit electronics135aand configuring the electronics to provide electrical power according to the charging requirements/capabilities of an EV plugged into hybrid dispenser1020(i.e., connected to one or more connectors127). According to some embodiments, dispenser electronics system130may be connected or coupled to the local main power infrastructure (e.g., the mains electrical network of a fueling station, building, home, etc.) and transmit electronics135amay be configured to provide Level 1 and/or Level 2 charging (e.g., single-phase AC charging at household or large appliance voltage/current levels via connection to the mains electricity network). Dispenser electronics system130may additionally, or alternatively, be connected to the utility grid providing three-phase AC power (or a mains electrical infrastructure using three-phase power) and transmit electronics135amay be configured to provide fast DC charging (e.g., Level 3 charging) to an EV plugged into a DC charging-capable connector127. AC/DC conversion may be performed by dispenser electronics system130or by an external power component coupled to dispenser electronics system130to provide DC power suitable for DC charging (or that provides DC power that can be converted by dispenser electronics system130to perform DC charging) at desired or selected levels (e.g., low, mid or high-current (fast) DC charging).

To facilitate connection to one or more electrical power providers1200, dispenser electronics system130may include an input power port131acomprising one or more port connectors to which corresponding electrical power providers can connect. For example, input power port131amay include any one or any combination of a single-phase AC connector, three-phase AC connector, DC connector (or multiple of any of these connectors), etc. Transmit electronics135amay be configured to receive power through input power port131avia the one or more connectors and perform any power conversion desired/needed to deliver electrical power to appropriate connector(s)127according to a desired type or level of charging. Dispenser controller140may configure transmit electronics135to receive power via a corresponding port connector at port131afor hybrid dispenser implementations that are configured to receive power from different electrical power providers1200(e.g., via a switch network coupled to the internal side of port131a). Electrical power providers may include any one or combination of the utility grid, a mains electrical network, an external utility box or power cabinet connected to the utility grid comprising power converters configured to convert grid power into different types of electrical power (e.g., single-phase AC power, DC power at one or more levels), one or more renewable electrical power providers, one or more UPS devices (e.g., one or more electrical storage devices) and/or a power distribution system (e.g., a power distribution system as discussed in further detail below).

According to some embodiments, in a second mode of operation (e.g., a receive mode or a dual mode), dispenser electronics system130may be configured to receive electrical power from an EV via an electrical connector127connected to the EV by engaging receive electronics135ato receive electrical power from the connector (e.g., via a connector127coupled to a respective electrical cable of the hybrid dispenser or via an electrical connector127on the dispenser housing to which a removeable electrical cable has been plugged into). For example, receive electronics135bmay be configured to receive electrical power from EVs via the one or more connectors127and provide the electrical power to one or more electrical power receivers1250. Receive electronics135bmay include one or more power converters to convert electrical power received via connector(s)127or may provide electrical power substantially without conversion. As discussed above, to implement bi-directional power exchange with EVs, hybrid dispenser1020may include one or more bi-directional connectors127and/or or one or more connectors127that are dedicated for either delivering or receiving power, respectively. As such, transmit electronics135aand received electronics135bmay be coupled to one or more of the same connectors127(e.g., one or more bi-directional connectors127) or may be coupled to different connectors127(e.g., one or more connectors127dedicated to either provide or receive electrical power). In the case of bi-directional connector(s)127, transmit electronics135aand receive electronics135bmay share at least some of the electrical circuitry that couples the dispenser electronics system130to the bi-directional connector127and dispenser controller140may configure dispenser electronics system130to connect transmit electronics135aand receive electronics135bto shared circuitry depending on the mode of operation, which connector(s)127are connected to one or more EVs and/or the capabilities of the connected EV(s).

To provide electrical power to one or more electrical power receivers1250, dispenser electronics system130may include output power port131bcomprising one or more port connectors to which corresponding electrical power receivers can connect. For example, output power port131amay include any one or combination of AC connector(s), DC connector(s), etc. Receive electronics135bmay be configured to provide power through output power port131bvia the one or more connectors after performing any power conversion needed to deliver electrical power in the desired format (e.g., AC or DC power at desired voltage/current levels). As discussed above and in further detail below, electrical power receivers1250may include any type of component or system, including hybrid dispenser1020itself (e.g., dispenser electronics system130may be coupled to provide power to any one or combination of power consuming components of the hybrid dispenser, including dispenser controller140, interface122, controls for valves123, sensor(s)124, compressors, electrolyzer units, etc.), one or more other dispensers, one or more electrical energy storage devices (e.g., a UPS or battery stack), hydrogen cooling systems, pumps or other equipment, one or more electrical networks (e.g., the local electrical infrastructure, the utility grid, etc.), a power distribution system connected to one or more electrical power receivers1250, etc.

Input power port131aand output power port131bmay be implemented in any suitable way, for example, as a single power port131or as separate power ports. For example, the input/output ports may be implemented as part of an electrical backplane of dispenser electronic system130having a plurality of connectors or may be implemented as part of separate electrical backplanes. Furthermore, connectors of input/output power port(s) may be externally accessible (e.g., via the dispenser housing), internally accessible (e.g., via cable passthroughs in the housing, subterranean cables, etc.), internal connectors, or a combination of both internal and external connections. It should be appreciated that the dispenser electronics system130illustrated inFIG.10Dshows one exemplary implementation, but dispenser electronics system130may be implemented in any suitable way to allow hybrid dispenser1020to bi-directionally exchange power with EVs100and to both receive power from one or more electrical power providers1200and provide power to one or more electrical power receivers1250. Additionally, while the above-described components of the exemplary hybrid dispenser1020illustrated inFIGS.4A-Cand10A-10D are shown as integrated substantially in housing121to which both hydrogen gas nozzle(s)125and connectors127are coupled, components of a hybrid dispenser may be distributed among multiple housings, an exemplary embodiment of which is illustrated inFIG.11.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG.11, hybrid dispenser1120comprises a hydrogen gas dispenser unit220aand an electric charging unit120bhaving respective housings221aand221b. According to some embodiments, hybrid dispenser1120may leverage some aspects of existing hydrogen gas dispenser and charging station architectures or deployments for refueling and recharging EVs that may be adapted to operate in concert to utilize PFCEVs as an electrical power source in the manner discussed above and in further detail below. However, hybrid dispenser1120need not use any existing hybrid dispenser or charging station architectures/deployments or aspects thereof. In hybrid dispenser1120, charging unit221bmay comprise power electronics system230configured to bi-directionally exchange power with EVs (e.g., BEV100band PFCEV100c) via one or more connectors127coupled to housing221b(e.g., via an electrical cable or provided on housing221bfor connection to one or more removeable electrical cables in any of the configurations described above) and to exchange electrical power with one or more electrical power providers/receivers in the manner described above in connection with dispenser electronics system130.

Power electronics system230may be coupled to the power electronics of hydrogen dispenser unit220ato provide power to hydrogen dispenser unit220ain a receive mode or dual mode. For example, hydrogen dispenser unit220amay be one of the electrical power receivers1250that can be provided with electrical power from power electronics system230(e.g., from power electronics system230's receive electronics) received from one or more EVs in a receive mode or dual mode operation. According to some embodiments, power electronics system230may be configured to also provide electrical power to the power electronics of hydrogen dispenser unit220ato power the hydrogen dispenser unit220aduring normal operation (e.g., hydrogen dispenser unit220amay be powered by power electronics system230's transmit electronics receiving electrical power from one or more electrical power providers1200a first mode). In this way, hydrogen dispenser unit220aneed not have separate connection(s) to electrical power provider(s)1200. However, according to some embodiments, hydrogen dispenser unit220amay also include separate connection(s) to one or more electrical power providers1200(e.g., via an electrical port with external and/or internal connectors) and independent power electronics to distribute electrical power to components hydrogen dispenser unit220a.

Hybrid dispenser1120's dispenser controller may be distributed across controllers within housings221aand221bthat are communicatively coupled to perform operations of hybrid dispenser1120. For example, electrical charging unit220bmay include an electrical power controller240bthat implements any of the charging mode, receive mode and/or dual mode control functionality described above for hybrid dispenser controller140(e.g., functionality described in connection with electrical power controller144described in connection withFIG.10C). Hydrogen gas dispenser unit220amay comprise a hydrogen dispenser controller240aconfigured to provide control functionality for hydrogen gas dispensing described above for hybrid dispenser controller140(e.g., functionality described in connection hydrogen gas controller142described in connection withFIG.10C).

Hydrogen dispenser controller240aand electrical power controller240bmay be coupled to exchange data and control information to coordinate operations during dual refueling and charging events, during receive mode or dual mode operation and/or during any other operation of hybrid dispenser unit220aor electric charging unit220b. Controllers240aand240bmay be coupled via respective communication controllers that communicate via a communication network (e.g., a communication network109) and/or may include one or more dedicated communication connections or channels to exchange data and control information between hydrogen gas dispenser unit220aand charging unit220b.

The inventors have recognized that the ability to utilize hydrogen gas and electrical power as complimentary energy sources facilitates the ability to implement resilient energy storage systems comprising a plurality of electrical power providers and electrical power receivers and one or more hydrogen gas providers and hydrogen gas receivers coupled via an electrical distribution system comprising a common electrical power bus and a plurality of power converters configured to distribute electrical power between the electrical power providers and electrical power receivers. According to some embodiments, at least one electrical power receiver can also operate as an electrical power provider and at least one electrical power provider comprises a fuel cell system configured to convert hydrogen gas to electrical power that can be provided to the electrical power distribution system. According to some embodiments, the at least one electrical power receiver that can also operate as an electrical power provider comprises a fuel cell system configured to convert hydrogen gas to electrical power (e.g., a PFCEV).

FIG.12Aillustrates a system1000, in accordance with some embodiments. Exemplary energy storage system1000comprises a plurality of electrical power providers1200, a plurality of electrical power receivers1250and a power distribution system1500configured to distribute electrical power between the electrical energy providers and electrical energy receivers via a plurality of power converters1505coupled to a common electrical bus1510(“DC BUS”). The plurality of power converters1505may include one or more power converters1505coupled to electrical power provider(s)1200and/or electrical power receiver(s)1250, one or more power converters that are part of electrical power provider(s)1200and/or electrical power receiver(s)1250, or a combination of both. That is, power converters1505are depicted inFIG.12Agenerally to illustrate exemplary power distribution system configurations suitable for distributing electrical power between electrical power provider(s)1200and/or electrical power receiver(s)1250, wherein power converters1505may be implemented in any suitable way and as part of any electronics component, including within one or more electrical power utility boxes, as part of one or more electrical power providers/receivers (e.g., as part of a hybrid dispenser), or in any combination thereof.

Exemplary power distribution system1500may include one or more AC/DC converters (e.g., AC/DC converter(s)1505a), one or more DC/AC converters (e.g., DC/AC converter(s)1505a), and one or more DC/DC converters (e.g., one or more of DC/DC converters1505b-1505e). As discussed in further detail below, power converters1505include one or more power converters that convert electrical power received from the one or more electrical energy providers1200to electrical power suitable for distribution over common bus1510(e.g., receiving power converters, such as power converters1505a-1505c,1505eand15050, and one or more power converters that convert electrical power distributed by common bus1510to electrical power as needed by the respective energy receivers (e.g., distribution power converters, such as power converters1505a,1505c,1505dand1505e). Power converters1505configured to couple with components that can operate as both electrical power providers1200and electrical power receivers1250may include both receiving power converters and distribution power converters (e.g., power converters1505a,1505cand1505e) to convert electrical power to and from common bus1510according to the electrical power requirements of the electrical power providers/receivers to which they are coupled.

Power distribution system1500may be coupled to one or more hydrogen gas providers1400and one or more hydrogen gas receivers1450. According to some embodiments, at least one hydrogen gas receiver comprises a hydrogen gas converter1350configured to convert hydrogen gas to electrical power (e.g., at least one component that can operate as both a hydrogen gas receiver and an electrical energy provider, such as the fuel cell system of a PFCEV1100or standalone fuel cell system1045illustrated inFIG.12A). Additionally, power distribution system1500may be coupled to one or more electrical power converters1375configured to convert electrical power into hydrogen gas (e.g., electrolyzer unit(s)1035illustrated inFIG.12A).

In system1000, one exemplary electrical energy provider1200coupled to power distribution system1500includes utility network1005, which may include the utility grid and/or one or more secondary electrical networks (e.g., a facility's mains electrical power network). During a first mode of operation, power distribution system1500may be configured to receive AC electrical power from utility network1005, convert the AC electrical power to DC electrical power via power converter(s)1505a(which include at least one AC/DC power converter), and distribute electrical power to any of the electrical energy receivers1250as needed via common DC bus1510and corresponding power converters1505. For example, power distribution system1500may distribute at least some electrical power received from utility network1005to charge one or more electrical storage devices1025(via power converter(s)1505c), charge one or more EVs1100(e.g., including BEVs or PFCEVs via power converters1505e), provide electrical power to one or more electrolyzer units1035(via power converter(s)1505d), etc.

As discussed above, utility network1005may include the electrical power grid and any electrical infrastructure connected thereto (e.g., a mains electrical network or other secondary electrical power network) and power distribution system1500may be configured to receive electrical power from the utility network1005via a three-phase connection (e.g., a three-phase connection to the grid) or a single-phase connection (e.g., a single-phase connection to the mains electrical network), or both. As such, AC/DC converter(s)1505amay include one or more AC/DC converters configured to convert three-phase AC power to DC power suitable for common bus1510, one or more AC/DC converters configured to convert single-phase AC power to DC power suitable for common bus1510, or both. As such, power distribution system1500may be configured to receive and convert electrical power from the grid and/or from one or more secondary networks connected to the grid and distribute that electrical power to one or more electrical energy receivers1250connected to power distribution system1500. Similarly, power converter(s)1505amay include DC/AC power converters configured to convert DC power provided via common bus1510to any of the above discussed AC power formats to deliver electrical power back to utility network105during a second mode of operation.

Power distribution system1500may additionally be coupled to electrical storage devices1025(e.g., UPS devices), which may include any number or type of devices configured to store and provide electrical energy (e.g., one or more electro-chemical batteries such as lithium-ion batteries, capacitive-storage devices, etc.). Power distribution system1500may therefore include one or more DC/DC converters1505cto convert DC electrical power from common bus1510to charge electrical storage devices1025when one or more electrical storage devices1025are operating as electrical power receiver(s)1250(e.g., during a first mode of operation in which power distribution system1500distributes electrical power received from utility network1005to charge one or more electrical storage devices1025that are not fully charge) and power distribution system1500may include one or more DC/DC power converters1505cthat convert DC power from electrical storage device(s)1025to DC power that is distributed by common bus1510to one or more electrical energy receivers1250as needed when one or more electrical storage devices1025operate as electrical power provider(s)1200.

As examples, electrical storage device (s)1025may include one or more electrical storage devices to operate as an auxiliary power source (e.g., as a UPS) in the event of power failure in the primary power source (e.g., utility network1005), when electrical power from the primary power source is in high demand to decrease the load on the primary power source, when electrical power from the primary source is expensive (e.g., one or more electrical storage devices1025may operate as an electrical power receiver1250when usage rates at the primary source are low and operate as an electrical power provider1200when usage rates at a primary source are high). Electrical storage devices1025may include also include electrical storage devices of one or more hydrogen gas dispensers, charging stations and/or hybrid dispensers that are coupled to the power distribution system1500. Thus, one or more electrical storage device(s)1025may operate as an electrical power receiver1250and/or as an electrical energy provider1200during a first mode of operation, either at different times or simultaneously as the power needs of the electrical storage system1000change, and as both an electrical energy receiver1250and provider1200in a second mode, as discussed in further detail below.

Power distribution system1500may additionally be connected to one or more renewable electrical energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, etc. For example, distribution system1500may be coupled to solar panels1015via power converters1505b, as illustrated in system1000ofFIG.12A. Power distribution system1500may be configured to receive electrical power from solar panels1015and distribute electrical power to one or more electrical energy receivers in a manner similar to that described in connection with utility network1005. As discussed below, solar panels1015(or another renewable energy provider such as wind turbine electrical power) may deliver power during the first mode of operation as well as during a second mode of operation discussed below (e.g., during a resiliency mode when a primary source of electrical power has been disrupted).

In a first mode of operation, power distribution system1500may distribute electrical power received from utility network1005to charge one or more EVs1100, which may include BEVs and/or PFCEVs. For example, DC/DC converters1505emay be coupled to or may be part of one or more charging stations or hybrid dispensers (e.g., as illustrated inFIGS.12B and12C, respectively) configured to deliver electrical power to one or more EVs1100(e.g., in a charging mode as discussed above). For example, power distribution system1500may include a DC/DC converter1505efor different types of connectors and charging levels to accommodate a wide variety of EVs1100. DC/DC converters1505emay also include one or more power converters, which may be coupled to or part of one or more hybrid dispensers or charging stations (e.g., as illustrated inFIGS.12B and12C, respectively) configured to convert electrical power received from one or more EVs1100to electrical power that can be distributed by common bus1510to one or more electrical energy receivers as needed, e.g., during a second mode of operation.

In both a first mode of operation and in a second mode of operation, one or more FCEVs or PFCEVs may receive hydrogen gas from hydrogen gas providers1400to refuel vehicle fuel tanks, e.g., via one or more hydrogen gas dispensers and/or hybrid dispensers coupled to (or comprising) one or more hydrogen gas providers1400. For example, according to some embodiments, power distribution system1500may be coupled to one or more electrolyzer units1035configured convert electrical power into hydrogen gas to provide electrolyzer units(s)1035with electrical power to produce hydrogen gas that can be stored by hydrogen gas storage1055(e.g., one or more hydrogen gas tanks) and/or provided to FCEVs or PFCEVs to refuel the vehicle (e.g., via one or more hydrogen gas dispensers or hybrid dispensers), thus on-site production of hydrogen gas. According to some embodiments, one or more electrolyzer unit(s)1035may be a component of a hydrogen gas dispenser or hybrid dispenser itself (e.g., housed within the dispenser), for example, like example dispensers disclosed in the '062 patent. According to some embodiments, one or more electrolyzer unit(s) may be units external to the dispensers (e.g., a standalone electrolyzer stack, etc.).

According to some embodiments, power distribution system1500may include one or more DC/DC converters1505dconfigured to provide electrical power from common bus1510to electrolyzer units(s)1035or power distribution system1500may configured to use one or more DC/DC converters1505eand include appropriate switching modes to share one or more power converters as appropriate. According to some embodiments, one or more DC/DC converters1505eare provided in a hybrid dispenser and may be used to both convert electrical power provided to and/or received from EVs1100and used to provide electrical power to one or more electrolyzer unit(s)1035, which may be provided either internal and/or external to the hybrid dispenser, to contribute to on-side production of hydrogen gas. Hydrogen gas storage1055may include one or more storage tanks providing on-site hydrogen gas and/or may include one or more transportable/mobile hydrogen gas tanks (e.g., a tube trailer) for use as a transportable/mobile hydrogen gas supply.

In a second mode of operation, one or more electrical energy receivers1250may be operated as an electrical energy provider1200, for example, in response to an event at a primary electrical power source (e.g., utility network1005), such as a loss of power, a change in demand and/or a change in usage rates. According to some embodiments, power distribution system1500is configured to utilize one or more EVs1100as an electrical energy provider to distribute electrical power to one or more other electrical energy receivers1250, including potentially one or more components that operated as an electrical energy provider1200during a first mode of operation (e.g., utility network1005, electrical storage devices1025, hybrid dispensers, etc.). However, power distribution system1500may be configured to distribute electrical power received from one or more EVs1100to any suitable electrical energy receiver, as the aspects are not limited in this respect.

As one example, in a second operating mode, one or more power converters1505emay be configured to receive electrical power from one or more BEVs or PFCEVs, e.g., via a connection made between one or more electric charging stations and/or one or more hybrid dispensers (e.g., any of the hybrid dispensers discussed herein) and, after performing any necessary power conversion, provide the electrical power to common bus1510for distribution to one or more other electrical energy receivers1250. For example, power distribution system1500may distribute electrical power from one or more EVs1000to provide power to operate one or more hydrogen gas dispensers, hybrid dispensers, charging stations, etc.), to provide power to utility network1005(e.g., to provide electrical power to the local electrical infrastructure and/or to provide power back to the grid, etc.), to provide electrical power to one or more electrical storage devices1025, etc. As with power converters1505econfigured to provide electrical power from power distribution system1500to EVs1100, power converters1505econfigured to provide electrical power from EVs to power distribution system1500may be coupled to or be part of one or more hybrid dispensers, as illustrated inFIGS.12B and12C.

For example, as illustrated inFIG.12B, one or more of the electrical connections between power distribution system1500and EVs1100include a hybrid dispenser1220, which may include any of the hybrid dispenser configurations described herein. For example, a hybrid dispenser1220may be coupled to one or more of power converters1505eto receive DC electrical power to be delivered to one or more EVs1100, with or without further conversion by the electronics system of the hybrid dispenser. Additionally, one or more of the hydrogen gas connections between hydrogen gas providers1400and EVs1100may include a hybrid dispenser1220to implement any of the mobile generator techniques described herein. It should be appreciated that one or more of the electrical connections may also include a charging station and one or more of the hydrogen gas connections may include a hydrogen gas dispenser that are not configured to operate as hybrid dispensers. As illustrated inFIG.12C, one or more of power converters1505dand/or1505emay be part of a hybrid dispenser1220. For example, one or more power converters1505d/1505emay be part of the power electronics system130discussed in connection withFIGS.10A-10D(e.g., as part of transmit electronics135aand/or receive electronics135bdiscussed in connection withFIG.10D). As discussed above, one or more electrolyzer units1035may be internal to a hybrid dispenser1220and electrical power received from common bus1510may be provided to an internal electrolyzer unit1035by the hybrid dispensers power electronics system to generate hydrogen gas that can be dispensed to vehicles for refueling.

The inventors have recognized that wireless charging technology may be used to implement a hybrid dispenser to replace or supplement conventional “wired” EV charging (e.g., EV charging using a physical electrical connection such an electrical cable or cord connected between an electrical power supply and the EV as discussed above) to facilitate refueling and/or recharging of EVs (e.g., FCEVs, BEVs and PFCEVs, etc.). According to some embodiments, a hybrid dispenser performs EV charging using wireless charging technology configured to wirelessly charge the battery of the vehicle. When an EV includes a fuel cell system (e.g., a PFCEV), wireless charging may be performed while the vehicle is being refueled with hydrogen. According to some embodiments, a hybrid dispenser is configured to perform hydrogen gas fueling events and wireless charging events. According to some embodiments, wireless charging technology is implemented in a bi-directional configuration wherein a hybrid dispenser comprises a wireless charging system configured to both wirelessly charge a battery of an EV and to wirelessly receive electrical power from an EV to utilize the EV as a mobile generator, examples of which are described in further detail below.

FIG.13Aillustrates a hybrid dispenser1320configured to dispense hydrogen gas to FCEVs and PFCEVs such as vehicle1100via hydrogen gas nozzle125and configured to charge EV batteries (e.g., one of more batteries of a BEV, PFCEV, etc.) using a wireless charging system configured to wirelessly couple to an EV to provide electrical power to charge the EV battery via the wireless coupling. In particular, in addition to one or more hydrogen gas nozzles125configured to dispense hydrogen gas to the fuel tank of EV1100, hybrid dispenser1320comprises power supply1330connected to a wireless charging pad1335via an electrical connection1333. EV1100comprises a charging unit1135coupled to one or more batteries of the vehicle and configured to electromagnetically couple to charging pad1335when charging pad1335is provided with electrical power from power source1330. InFIG.13A, charging unit1135is located or positioned on the underside of vehicle1100so as to readily couple with the charging pad1335when EV1100has stopped or is parked in proximity to hybrid dispenser1320and charging pad1335is operated (e.g., provided with electrical power). However, the charging pad1335and charging unit1135may be provided in other configurations (e.g., the exemplary configuration illustrated inFIGS.15and16), as the aspects are not limited in this respect.

Exemplary charging pad1335is configured to receive electrical power from power source1330and use the electrical power to produce electromagnetic energy. For example, power source1330may provide AC or DC electrical power to charging pad1335(i.e., depending on the design of charging pad1335) via electrical connection1333. Charging pad1335may be configured to convert received electrical power into an electrical current that is used to produce an electromagnetic field that is radiated out from charging pad1335, illustrated as electromagnetic field1337. According to some embodiments, charging pad1335includes one or more coils (e.g., as illustrated inFIGS.17and18discussed below) configured to produce an electromagnetic field1337when electrical current received or derived from the electrical power from power source1330is provided to the one or more coils. When charging unit1135is positioned in proximity to charging pad1335, charging unit1135couples to electromagnetic field1337and converts energy from electromagnetic field1337into electrical current. For example, charging unit1135may include one or more coils (e.g., as also illustrated inFIGS.17and18discussed below) through which electromagnetic field1337induces electrical current. The induced electrical current (or an electrical current derived therefrom) may then be provided to the one or more batteries of vehicle1100for charging. Thus, hybrid dispenser1320can perform a fueling event via nozzle(s)125and a charging event via a wireless charging system (e.g., via a wireless charger comprising power source1330, electrical connection1333and charging pad1335.)

Power source1330may be any suitable electrical component or components capable of providing electrical power that can be used by charging pad1335to generate an electromagnetic filed for wirelessly coupling to an EV's charging unit1135. For example, power source1330may be implemented within the power electronics system of hybrid dispenser1320(e.g., power electronics system130discussed in connection withFIGS.10A-10D). In particular, power source1330may be, or may include, the power electronics pathway between one or more electrical power providers1200and charging pad1335. For example, power source1330may be implemented, at least in part, like transmit electronics135adiscussed in connection withFIG.10D, but may be configured to provide power from one or more electrical power providers1220to electrical connection1333. That is, power source1330may include the electronic circuits configured to receive electrical power from one or more electrical power providers1200, perform any desired/needed power conversion and provide electrical power to charging pad1335via electrical connection1333. According to some embodiments, power source1330may be external or partially external to hybrid dispenser1320, as the aspects are not limited to any particular configuration and/or implementation.

According to some embodiments, portions of the wireless charging system may be provided beneath or partially beneath the surface of a dispenser platform or ground surface. For example, according to some embodiments, electrical connection1333is provided underneath the surface on which vehicles travel (e.g., beneath the dispenser or fueling station platform), such as via a subterranean cable, cord, wire bundle, etc. However, electrical connection1333can be any connection, either above or below ground, that is capable of providing electrical power from power source1330to operate charging pad1335(e.g., as illustrated by the exemplary configurations illustrated inFIGS.15and16). Charging pad1335may also be positioned below ground, partially below ground or entirely above ground. For example, charging pad1335may be partially beneath the ground surface with an upper surface above ground or at the ground surface. The upper surface or portions above ground may be protected (e.g., positioned with a housing, provided with a protective shielding or coating) to prevent damage from vehicles and/or the elements. Alternatively, charging pad1335may be positioned entirely beneath or above the surface, as the aspects are not limited in this respect.

Hybrid dispenser1320may include a hybrid dispenser controller1340to control hydrogen refueling and wireless electric charging. For example, hybrid dispenser controller may include one or more controllers configured to perform any of the functionality of hybrid dispenser controller140discussed above in connection withFIGS.10A-10Dpertaining to hydrogen gas dispensing and communication. Hybrid dispenser controller1340may further include one or more controllers configured to control a wireless charging event, for example, by controlling power source1330to provide power to charging pad1335to generate an electromagnetic field to wirelessly couple to charging unit1135of vehicle1100.

For example,FIG.13Billustrates a hybrid dispenser1320having a hybrid dispenser controller1340implemented in accordance with some embodiments. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG.13B, hybrid dispenser controller1340comprises a hydrogen gas dispenser controller1342that may be configured to perform any of the functionality of hydrogen gas controller142described in connection withFIG.10Cand communication controller1346that may be configured to perform any of the functionality of communication controller146described in connection withFIG.10C. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated inFIG.13B, power source1330is implemented, at least in part, by the hybrid dispenser's power electronics system1330and hybrid dispenser controller1340comprises wireless charging controller configured to control dispenser electronics system1330to provide power to charging pad1335during a wireless charging event. For example, wireless charging controller1344may control the engaging or activation of the power electronics circuitry that receives electrical power from one or more electrical power providers1200, performs any desired/needed power conversion, and provides electrical power to operate charging pad1335, as illustrated inFIG.13C. For example, the exemplary dispenser electronics system1330illustrated inFIG.13Ccomprises charging electronics1035coupled to receive electrical power form one or more electrical power providers1200(e.g., via a power port131having one or more connectors), perform any power conversion desired/needed to deliver electrical power to charging pad1335via electrical connection1333to operate charging pad1335to produce electromagnetic energy that can be used to inductively charge an EV configured with a corresponding charging unit1135.

As discussed above in connection with hybrid dispenser controller140, hybrid dispenser controller1340may be a single controller or multiple controllers that are communicatively coupled together. In particular, exemplary hydrogen gas controller1342, wireless charging controller1344and communication controller1346illustrated inFIG.13Brepresent control functionality that may be implemented on one physical controller or multiple physical controllers that are coupled to communicate (e.g., exchange data, control information, signaling) to coordinate operations of the hybrid dispenser. Like hybrid dispenser controller140, the one or multiple controllers forming dispenser controller1340(and any controllers described herein) may be implemented as one or any combination of one or more processors, microcontrollers, ASICS, FPGAs, etc., or any other suitable software and/or hardware controllers, as the aspects are not limited for use with any particular dispenser controller configuration or implementation. Moreover, dispenser electronics system1330may include any of the electronics needed to provide power to components of the hybrid dispenser to perform a hydrogen fueling event, a wireless charging event, or both (e.g., dispenser electronics system may include the electrical circuitry needed to power interface122, valve(s)123, sensor(s)124illustrated inFIG.13B, or to operate other components that may be part of a particular hybrid dispenser implementation (e.g., compressors, electrolyzer units, etc.).

Accordingly, hybrid dispenser1320is capable of refueling FCEVs, wirelessly charging BEVs and/or concurrently refueling and wirelessly charging PFCEVs. According to some embodiments, when an EV1100arrives at hybrid dispenser1320, hybrid dispenser1320may determine whether the EV is a BEV only, an FCEV only or a PFCEV and whether EV1100is capable of wireless charging. For example, hybrid dispenser1320may determine the type of the EV using any of the V2X communication techniques above and/or described in the incorporated '568 publication. Alternatively, hybrid dispenser1320may determine the type of the EV and/or whether the EV is capable of wireless charging by virtue of a user providing information to the hybrid dispenser via interface122. Once hybrid dispenser1320has determined the type of vehicle, the system may commence with a hydrogen refueling event, wireless charging event, or both. Dispenser controller1340may transition through various checks (e.g., safety check for combustible gas, ambient temperature checks, cooling system check if hydrogen pre-cooling is used, and checks for proper functioning of the wireless charging system if wireless charging is to be performed) prior to initiating hydrogen gas refueling and/or wireless charging. Hybrid dispenser controller1340may be configured to control the components of the hybrid dispenser needed to perform refueling events, wireless charging events or coordinate operations for dual hydrogen fueling and wireless charging events. According to some embodiments, dispenser controller1340may be configured to operate charging pad1335without determining whether a vehicle is capable of wireless charging (e.g., by continuously operating charging pad1335during some predetermined time-period, operating charging pad1335whenever a vehicle is detected proximate the hybrid dispenser, whenever a vehicle engages with a hydrogen nozzle, etc.). In this way, hybrid dispenser1320can be configured to operate charging pad1335without determining whether the vehicle can make use of the hybrid dispenser's wireless charging capabilities (or alternatively, even whether or not a vehicle is present).

According to some embodiments, hybrid dispenser1320may be configured to operate charging pad1335whenever a vehicle is detected proximate the dispenser and the charging pad1335may be configured to detect whether a cooperating charging unit1135of the vehicle has coupled to the charging pad1335or, alternatively, the vehicle's charging unit1135may signal that a wireless coupling has been made, either wirelessly to the charging pad1335or via any other communication channel established between the EV and the hybrid dispenser. According to some embodiments, if no wireless coupling is detected, hybrid dispenser may be configured to cease operation of charging pad1335. If a wireless coupling is detected, hybrid dispenser may proceed with a charging event or may present the option of wireless charging to the vehicle's operator (e.g., via interface122) and only proceed with a charging event if requested. It should be appreciated that hybrid dispenser1320may be configured to initiate and perform a charging event in any suitable way, as the aspects are not limited in this respect.

According to some embodiments, a hybrid dispenser may also include one or more connectors for plug-in charging (e.g., one or more connectors127described for the hybrid dispensers and charging stations discussed above), as illustrated inFIG.14. For example, exemplary hybrid dispenser1420comprises one or more hydrogen gas nozzles125, one or more electrical connectors127for plug-in charging and a wireless charging system as described above in connection with exemplary hybrid dispenser1320illustrated inFIGS.13A-13C. Hybrid dispenser1420may therefore be used to simultaneously perform, hydrogen refueling, wireless charging and plug-in charging, and/or to perform any one of hydrogen refueling, wireless charging and plug-in charging alone and/or independently, as the aspects are not limited in this respect.

FIG.15illustrates a hybrid dispenser1520in which the wireless charging system is arranged in a different configuration. Specifically, in the configuration illustrated inFIG.15, charging pad1335is affixed to canopy1580. For example, fueling stations often include canopies to shield against the elements. Such canopies are frequently already wired for electricity to provide nighttime lighting, etc. (e.g., a canopy may be connected to the local electrical infrastructure of the fueling stations). Charging pad1335may be affixed, attached or otherwise built into canopy and connected to the electrical network of the fueling station, which may include power source1330or to which power source1330may be coupled. Charging unit1135may be positioned on a top portion of vehicle1100, for example, the roof, hood or other location suitable for coupling with electromagnetic field1337generated by charging pad1335.FIG.16illustrates another configuration for the wireless charging system in which charging pad1335is disposed on or integrated within hybrid dispenser1620and charging unit1135is positioned on the side of the vehicle such that charging pad1135is capable of coupling with electromagnetic field1337when vehicle1100drives up next to or sufficiently proximate hybrid dispenser1620. It should be appreciated that the configurations illustrated for the wireless charging systems illustrated inFIGS.13-16are merely exemplary and any other configuration that allows charging pad1335and charging unit1135to electromagnetically couple may be used, as the aspects are not limited in this respect. Additionally, any of the hybrid dispensers capable of wireless charging may also include one or more connectors for plug-in charging (e.g., as shown for exemplary hybrid dispenser1420illustrated inFIG.14). That is, a hybrid dispenser may include both wireless and plug-in charging capabilities for any configuration of the wireless charging system.

FIG.17illustrates schematically an exemplary charging pad1335and charging unit1135for use in wireless charging of EVs, for example, in any of the wireless charging configurations illustrated inFIGS.13-16. In particular, exemplary charging pad1335illustrated inFIG.17may include a housing1334for a conductive coil1339(or multiple conductive coils1339) electrically coupled to transmit electronics1336. Conductive coil(s)1339may be formed by a conductive coil of wire (e.g., a copper wire coil), a conductive coil formed by conductive traces on a printed circuit board, a coil formed by machining sheets of conductive material, or any other suitable electromagnetic coil implementation. Transmit electronics1336may include an electrical port having one or more connectors to allow for an electrical connection1333to be made between charging pad1335and a power source1330(illustrated schematically as power supply1330inFIG.17), which may be the power electronics system of the hybrid dispenser as described above. Transmit electronics1336may include any electronic components and circuitry (e.g., power converters, amplifiers, etc.) needed to convert the electrical power received from power source1330to an electrical current suitable for driving the one or more coils1339.

Exemplary charging unit1135also comprises a housing1134for one or more conductive coils1139electrically coupled to receive electronics1138. Conductive coil(s)1139may likewise comprise wire coils, coils formed by printed conductive traces, conductive sheet coils, etc., or any other suitable electromagnetic coil implementation. Receive electronics1138may include an electrical port having one or more connectors configured to provide an electrical connection1133to an EV battery, illustrated schematically as battery1713, to provide electrical power to charge battery1713(e.g., via the charging electronics system or electrical distribution network of the EV's power system). Receive electronics1138may include any electronic components/circuitry needed to convert electrical current induced in coil(s)1139to electrical power that can be provided to charge battery1713.

In operation, electrical power provided by power source1330is received by transmit electronics1336via the electrical port to which electrical connection1333is connected. Transmit electronics1336may perform any needed power conversion to provide an electrical current to energize coil(s)1339to produce an electromagnetic field. That is, current flow in coil(s)1339produce an electromagnetic field, shown as electromagnetic field lines1337. It should be appreciated that electromagnetic field lines1337are merely schematic to illustrate the principle by which energized coil(s)1339induce a current in conductive coil(s)1139. Specifically, the electromagnetic field produced by coil(s)1339when energized with electrical current induce current in coil(s)1139that is received by receive electronics1138via the electrical coupling with coil(s)1139. Receive electronics1138in turn may perform any desired/needed power conversion of the induced current received from coil(s)1139to electrical power suitable for charging battery1713. In this way, power source1330can inductively charge battery1713, for example, in any of the configurations described in connection with the hybrid dispensers illustrated inFIGS.13-16.

The inventors recognized that by configuring charging pads/charging units with appropriate transmit and receive electronics, the above-described operation can be reversed, as illustrated inFIG.18. That is, the principle of driving one coil to induce current in another coil can be employed to exchange power bi-directionally. For example, charging unit1135inFIG.18may be implemented with both transmit and receive electronics1136/1138configured to convert electrical power received from battery1713to an electrical current provided to drive coil(s)1139to produce an electromagnetic field (via transmit electronics1136) and to convert induced current received from coil(s)1139to electrical power to charge battery1713(via receive electronics1138as discussed in connection withFIG.17). Similarly, charging pad1335may be implemented with transmit and receive electronics1336/1338configured to convert electrical power received from power component1330to an electrical current to drive coil(s)1339to produce an electromagnetic field (via transmit electronics1336as discussed in connection withFIG.17) and to convert induced current received from coil(s)1339to electrical power provided to power component1330(via receive electronics1338).

Thus, each of charging unit1135and charging pad1335can be operated as an electrical energy provider and as an electrical energy receiver (e.g., by operating the respective transmit/receive electronics accordingly). InFIG.18, charging unit1135is shown operating as an electrical provider and charging pad1335is shown operating as an electrical receiver (i.e., opposite to the operation illustrated inFIG.17). Thus, electrical power stored in battery1713can be provided to transmit electronics1136to energize coil(s)1139to produce an electromagnetic field, illustrated schematically as electromagnetic field lines1137. The electromagnetic field generated by coil(s)1139induces a current in coil(s)1339that is received by receive electronic1338and converted to electrical power that is provided to power component1330. In this way, wirelessly charging technology can be employed to provide bi-directional electrical power exchange with an EV, thus providing an alternative or additional channel by which EVs can be utilized as mobile generators in any of the systems described above, either alone or in combination with plug-in electrical power exchange.

According to some embodiments in which wireless charging components are bi-direction, bi-direction electrical connection1333may be implemented as electrical connection(s) that convey electrical power in either direction, as multiple electrical connections dedicated to conveying electrical power in a single direction (e.g., transmit electrical connection(s) for transmitting electrical power to charging pad1335and separate receive electrical connections(s) for receiving electrical power from charging pad1335), or in any other way suitable way for providing a bi-directional electrical power channel. Additionally, a bi-directional charging unit may be configured to receive electrical power from the vehicle's fuel cell system to be provided wirelessly to a bi-directional charging pad to receive electrical power from the vehicle.

FIG.19A-Cillustrates exemplary hybrid dispensers1920configured to bi-directionally exchange electrical power both via wireless and plug-in connections with EVs, in accordance with some embodiments. As shownFIG.19A, hybrid dispenser1920is configured to exchange electrical power bi-directionally with EV1100via one or more connectors127(e.g., as discussed above in connection with the hybrid dispensers illustrated inFIGS.4A-4C, and11) and wirelessly via bi-directional charging pad1335and charging unit1135(e.g., exemplary bi-directional wireless charging pad and charging unit illustrated inFIG.18). As illustrated inFIG.19B, hybrid dispenser controller1940may combine control functionality described in connection with dispenser controller140(e.g., as illustrated inFIG.10C) and dispenser controller1340(e.g., as illustrated inFIG.13B). For example, hybrid dispenser controller1940may include an electrical power controller1944comprising a charging controller1944aconfigured to perform any of the control functionality described in connection with charging controller144aillustrated inFIG.10Cand any of the control functionality described in connection with wireless charging controller1344illustrated inFIG.13Bto control dispenser electronics system1930to provide electrical power to one or more connector(s)127and/or to charging pad1335to perform plug-in charging, wireless charging or dual plug-in and wireless charging of the EV. Electrical power controller1944may comprise receive controller1944bconfigured to perform any of the control functionality described in connection with receive controller144bto control power electronics1930to receive electrical power from EVs via one or more connectors127and may be further configured to control power electronics1930to receive electrical power from charging pad1335.

As illustrated inFIG.19C, dispenser electronics system1930may combine electronic components/circuitry and functionality described in connection with dispenser electronics system130illustrated inFIG.10Dand described in connection with dispenser electronics system1330illustrated inFIG.13C. For example, dispenser electronics system1930may include transmit electronics1935athat includes any of the electronics described in connection with transmit electronics135aillustrated inFIG.10Dto provide power to connector(s)127and any of the electronics described in connection with charging electronics1035illustrated inFIG.13Cto provide electrical power to charging pad1335. As also shown inFIG.19C, dispenser electronics system1930may include receive electronics1935athat may include any of the electronics described in connection with receive electronics135aillustrated inFIG.10Dto receive electrical power from EVs via connector(s)127and may further comprising electronics configured to receive electrical power from charging pad1335.

In this way, dispenser controller1940can control the hybrid dispenser1920to perform a hydrogen fueling event, perform a wireless and/or plug-in EV charging event and/or utilize an EV as a mobile generator by receiving electrical power from the EV either wirelessly or via a plug-in connection to one or more connectors127. Electrical power received from one or more EVs, whether received wirelessly or via plug-in connections, may be used to provide power to any one or combination of electrical power receivers in accordance with any of the techniques described herein. It should be appreciated that hybrid dispenser1920may be implemented with a bi-directional wireless charging system but no plug-in capabilities. Accordingly, the dispenser controller functionality and power electronics configured for plug-in charging and receiving electrical power from EVs via plug-in connections may be eliminated.

FIG.20illustrates a hybrid dispenser1920(e.g., a hybrid dispenser configured with bi-directional wireless and plug-in electrical power exchange capabilities) connected to a power distribution system1500. In particular, hybrid dispenser1920may be used as any one or more of the hybrid dispensers1220illustrated inFIGS.12B and12C, but with an additional wireless channel for charging and receiving electrical power from EVs. Electrical power received via the wireless channel may then be distributed, stored or otherwise utilized in any of the ways discussed above in connection withFIGS.12A-C. Additionally, hybrid dispenser1920illustrated inFIG.20coupled to power distribution system1500may be implemented with a bi-directional wireless charging system but no plug-in capabilities, as the aspects are not limited to having both wireless and plug-in capabilities.

Having thus described several aspects and embodiments of the technology set forth in the disclosure, it is to be appreciated that various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the technology described herein. For example, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain, using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described. In addition, any combination of two or more features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods described herein, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

The above-described embodiments can be implemented in any of numerous ways. One or more aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure involving the performance of processes or methods may utilize program instructions executable by a device (e.g., a computer, a processor, or other device) to perform, or control performance of, the processes or methods (e.g., processes or methods performed by any of the controllers described herein). In this respect, various inventive concepts may be embodied as a computer readable storage medium (or multiple computer readable storage media) (e.g., a computer memory, one or more floppy discs, compact discs, optical discs, magnetic tapes, flash memories, circuit configurations in Field Programmable Gate Arrays or other semiconductor devices, or other tangible computer storage medium) encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more computers or other processors, perform methods that implement one or more of the various embodiments described above. The computer readable medium or media can be transportable, such that the program or programs stored thereon can be loaded onto one or more different computers or other processors to implement various ones of the aspects described above. In some embodiments, computer readable media may be non-transitory media.

When implemented in software, the software code can be executed on any suitable processor or collection of processors, whether provided in a single computer or distributed among multiple computers.

The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may be used to mean within ±20% of a target value in some embodiments, within ±10% of a target value in some embodiments, within ±5% of a target value in some embodiments, and yet within ±2% of a target value in some embodiments. The terms “approximately,” “about,” and “substantially” may include the target value.