Patent Publication Number: US-2023135028-A1

Title: Charging system, vehicle including a charging system, and charging method

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a charging system, to a vehicle including a charging system, and to a charging method. 
     BACKGROUND INFORMATION 
     Plug-in electric vehicles typically include an on-board charging system that regulates the process of charging the vehicle&#39;s battery or batteries from electric energy obtained via the electric power grid. The vehicle may be charged by connecting a charging cable between a power outlet, e.g., in a residential setting at the home of the owner or operator, in a commercial setting at a recharging station, etc., and the vehicle. For a so-called Level 1 charger, typically used in a residential setting, a charging cable connects between the vehicle&#39;s charging system and a standard 120 or 240 VAC, 15 or 20 amp grounded outlet and delivers, for example, 1.4 kW to the vehicle; for a so-called Level 2 charger, a charging cable connects between the vehicle&#39;s charging system and a 208 to 240 VAC,  40  amp circuit and delivers, for example, 6.2 to 7.6 kW to the vehicle; so-called Level 3 chargers, also referred to as Direct Current Fast Chargers (DCFCs), can deliver, for example, 50 to over 200 kW to the vehicle but typically require 480 VAC electrical service. The greater power output of Level 2 chargers results in faster charging than Level 1 chargers, and the greater power output of Level 3 chargers results in faster charging than Level 2, and also Level 1, chargers. The charger may have a power rating, e.g., representing the maximum power that a charger can apply to charge the battery. 
     Typically included in the sale, or lease, of an electric vehicle is a Level 1 charging cable that allows the owner or operator of the vehicle to plug the vehicle into a power outlet located, for example, at their residence or any location where a standard 120 VAC outlet is available. To take advantage of Level 2 or 3 charging, the owner or operator of the vehicle may be required to purchase additional equipment, including charging cables, a Level 2 or 3 charger, greater capacity batteries, etc. 
     SUMMARY 
     A charging system for an electric vehicle includes: a rechargeable energy storage device adapted to store electrical energy and to supply the stored electrical energy to at least one electric motor of the vehicle to propel the vehicle; a charger adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to a selectable power rating of at least two different power ratings to charge and/or recharge the energy storage device based on a selected one of power ratings; and a controller adapted to select one of the power ratings of the charger to set the charger to charge and/or recharge the energy storage device based on the selected one of the power ratings. 
     The energy storage device may include a rechargeable battery, e.g., a lithium-ion battery. 
     The charger may include an AC power inlet adapted to connect to an AC power source, and the charger may be adapted to supply electrical energy received via the AC power inlet to the energy storage device. 
     The power rating may represent a maximum power deliverable to the energy storage device by the charger. 
     The charger may be adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to a first one of the power ratings until the controller selects a second one of the power ratings that is different than the first one of the power ratings, and the charger may be adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to the second one of the power ratings after the controller selects the second one of the power ratings. 
     The first one of the power ratings may represent a lower power rating than the second one of the power ratings. 
     The charging system may include a communication device adapted to communicate with an external electronic device to receive an instruction from the external electronic device and adapted to communicate with the controller to cause the controller to select one of the power ratings. The external electronic device may include a portable electronic device. 
     The external electronic device may include a non-portable electronic device. The external electronic device may include a server, and the communication device may be adapted to communicate with the server via a wireless communication link. 
     The communication device may be adapted to communicate with the portable electronic device via a wireless communication link. 
     The controller may include a memory device adapted to store data that represents the selected one of the power ratings, and the charger may be adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to the selected one of the power ratings based on the data stored in the memory device of the controller. 
     The charger may include a memory device adapted to store data that represents the selected one of the power ratings, and the charger may be adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to the selected one of the power ratings based on the data stored in the memory device of the charger. The controller may be adapted to store the data that represents the selected one of the power ratings in the memory device of the charger. 
     The server may be adapted to communicate with a second electronic device and to receive an instruction from the second electronic device to communicate to the communication device of the vehicle an instruction to select one of the power ratings. The charger may be permanently adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to the second one of the power ratings after the controller selects the second one of the power ratings. 
     The vehicle may be arranged as an electric motorcycle. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a charging system for an electric vehicle that includes a rechargeable energy storage device adapted to store electrical energy and to supply the stored electrical energy to at least one electric motor of the vehicle to propel the vehicle includes: a charger adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to a selectable power rating of at least two power ratings to charge and/or recharge the energy storage device based on a selected one of power ratings; and a controller adapted to select one of the power ratings of the charger to set the charger to charge and/or recharge the energy storage device based on the selected one of the power ratings. 
     According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an electric vehicle includes: at least one electric motor adapted to propel the vehicle; a rechargeable energy storage device adapted to store electrical energy and to supply the stored electrical energy to at least one electric motor of the vehicle to propel the vehicle; a charger adapted to supply electrical energy to the energy storage device according to a selectable power rating of at least two power ratings to charge and/or recharge the energy storage device based on a selected one of power ratings; and a controller adapted to select one of the power ratings of the charger to set the charger to charge and/or recharge the energy storage device based on the selected one of the power ratings. 
     Further features and aspects of example embodiments of the present invention are described in more detail below with reference to the appended schematic Figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a schematic left side view of a vehicle according to an example embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG.  2    schematically illustrates a charging cable for the vehicle. 
         FIG.  3    schematically illustrates a charging port of the vehicle. 
         FIG.  4    schematically illustrates a charge controller of the vehicle. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG.  1    is a schematic side view of a vehicle  100  according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle  100  may be arranged as an electric vehicle (EV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), etc. For example, the vehicle  100  is arranged as an electric motorcycle, which includes a motor  102 , e.g., an air-cooled, brushless, permanent-magnet 3-phase AC motor, powered by an energy storage device  108 , e.g., a battery, a lithium-ion battery, etc., to drive the rear wheel  104 , and/or the front wheel  106 , to thereby propel the vehicle  100  according to the driver&#39;s operation thereof. The vehicle  110  includes a charging port connectable to an AC power source to charge and/or recharge the battery  108  as described in more detail below. 
     The battery  108  may be charged and/or recharged via electrical energy delivered by the power grid. For example, the vehicle  100  may include an on-board charger  114  that includes, or is controlled by, a controller  112 , which may also be on-board the vehicle  100 . It should be understood that that the controller  112  and/or the charger  114  may be on-board the vehicle  100  or external to the vehicle  100  and may be integrated into a single unit or may be arranged as separate units. 
     Referring, for example, to  FIG.  2   , the vehicle  100  may include a socket  126  connected to charger  114  to deliver AC, e.g., 120 VAC, 240 VAC, etc., current thereto. The socket  126  is adapted to receive a complementary mating plug  124  of a charging cable, power cord, or power adapter,  120 , which may be included with the sale of the vehicle  100 . Another plug  122  is provided at the opposite end of the charging cable  120  as the plug  124 , and the plugs  122 ,  124  are electrically connected to each other by wire  128 , e.g., a three-conductor, grounded wire. The plug  122  is adapted to plug into a socket  130 , e.g., a standard 120 VAC outlet. Thus, when the battery  108  is to be charged or recharged, plug  124  is plugged into socket  126  and plug  122  is plugged into socket  130 , so that AC current is delivered to charger  114 . 
     As noted above, socket  130  may be arranged as a standard 120 VAC outlet and may be arranged as, for example, a 15- or 20-amp circuit. Thus, the maximum power deliverable to charger  114  via socket  130  is 1,800 W (i.e., 1.8 kW), for a 120 VAC, 15-amp circuit, and 2,400 W (i.e., 2.4 kW), for a 120 VAC, 20-amp circuit, although the maximum power actually deliverable may be reduced, e.g., for safety reasons. Utilizing a 240 VAC, 20-amp socket, for example, the maximum power may be reduced to, for example, 16 amps, e.g., 3,840 W (i.e., 3.84 kW), e.g., for safety reasons. The charging cable  120  may therefore have a, e.g., minimum, rating of 1.8 kW to 2.4 kW. The charger  114  may therefore be arranged to charge or recharge battery  108  at Level 1 charging levels when utilizing charging cable  120 . Exceeding the power rating of charging cable  120  may result in overheating of the charging cable  120 , the charger  114 , the controller  112 , the socket(s)  126 ,  130 , etc., and result in damage thereto. Moreover, exceeding the power rating of charging cable  120  may result in an electrical fire. Therefore, in order to reduce and/or eliminate the possibility of exceeding the power rating of charging cable  120 , e.g., by connecting charging cable  120  to a higher voltage and/or higher amperage circuit in an effort to decrease the time to charge and/or recharge the battery  108 , the charger  114  and/or controller  112  may limit the power delivered from socket  130  via charging cable  120  to a level within or below the rating of charging cable, e.g., to Level 1 charging levels. In other words, the charger  114  and/or controller  112  may be adapted to charge the battery  108  at a first power rating. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  3   , the vehicle  100  may be equipped with an additional or alternative socket  132  that is connectable to a higher-rated circuit than socket  124 . For example, socket  132  may be connectable to a Level 2 or Level 3 charger that can deliver power to the charger  114  and/or controller  112  at a higher level than charging cable  120 . The socket  132  may, for example, be arranged as an SAE J 1772 , also referred to as a J plug, charging receptacle and may have a protective cover  134 . Thus, the charger  114  and/or controller  112  may be adapted to charge the battery  108  at a second power rating, e.g., corresponding to Level 2 charging, and a third power rating, e.g., corresponding to Level 3 charging. It should be understood that the charger  114  and/or controller may be adapted to charge the battery  108  at additional or fewer power ratings. Moreover, it should be understood that the charger&#39;s power rating may, or may not, be directly related to levels of charging defined by industry standards, e.g., Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, etc., in accordance with the SAE J1772 standard. The socket  132  may be adapted to receive current at a variety of charging levels. For example, socket  132  may operate at Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging levels, depending upon the charging equipment delivering current to the socket  132 . Therefore, charger  114  and/or controller  112  may be subject to a variety of charging levels and charging paths, e.g., via socket  126  and/or socket  132 . 
     To accommodate the variety of charging levels, and charging paths, the charger  114  may be able to alter its power rating. For example, the charger  114  may be configured at the time of its manufacture, at the time of installation on vehicle  100 , and/or at the time of sale, for example, to charge the battery  108  at a Level 1 charging level. Thus, in this state, the maximum power that the charger  114  can apply to charge and/or recharge the battery  108  may be limited to that corresponding to Level 1 charging, regardless of whether the battery  108  is charged and/or recharged via socket  126  or socket  132  and regardless of the maximum power that the external charging equipment is capable of delivering to the charger  114 . Therefore, for example, safety may be increased by maintaining the lowest charge level, even though the driver or operator of the vehicle  100  may connect the charger  114  to a Level 2 or Level 3 charger. 
     As described above, the vehicle  100  may include multiple sockets  126 ,  132  to charge and/or recharge the battery  108  via charger  114 . However, it should be understood that vehicle  100  may include only a single socket  126  or  132  to charge and/or recharge the battery  108  via charger  114 , and charger  114  may be adapted to accommodate any charge level, based on, for example, the charging equipment to which the vehicle  100  and charger  114  is connected and supplied with current to charge and/or recharge the battery  108 . 
     After manufacture, installation on vehicle  100 , and sale, for example, the charger  114  may be reconfigured to change, e.g., increase, its power rating. Thus, for example, the power rating of the charger  114  may be increased from that at the time of purchase of the vehicle  100 , after the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  purchases and installs, for example, Level 2 charging equipment in their place of residence. Based on the foregoing, only after the vehicle  100  can be charged at the higher Level 2 charging level is the power rating of the charger  114  changed. The charger  114  may also be reconfigured to change, e.g., increase, its power rating after the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  has access to, for example, Level 3 charging equipment. Thus, the power rating of the charger  114  may be reconfigured to coincide with the charging equipment that is owned and/or accessible to the owner or operator of the vehicle  100 . 
     The power rating of the charger  114  may be changed without changing the charger  114  itself. That is, the same charger  114  may be adapted to charge the battery  108  at different power ratings, such that the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  does not have to install a new or different charger  114  to obtain the different, e.g., higher, power rating. For example, it may be possible to set the power rating of the charger  114  by the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  via a menu system of an interface of the vehicle  100  displayed on a display screen  118  of the vehicle  100 . 
     It is also possible to change the power rating of the charger  114  via a remote system. For example, as illustrated in  FIG.  4   , the controller  112  of the vehicle  100  is connected to the charger  114  and the dash display  118 , and the charger  114  is connected to socket  126 ,  132  to receive power therefrom and to battery  108  to charge and/or recharge the battery  108  by power received via socket  126 ,  132 . The battery  108  is connected to motor  102  to provide power to the motor  102  to propel the vehicle. The vehicle  100  includes a communication module  116 , which may be adapted to communicate with external devices via wired connection(s) to the external devices and/or wireless connection(s) to the external devices. For example, the communications module  116  may include WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, etc., interface(s) to communicate with the external devices. 
     The controller  112  may include one or more electronic control units (ECUs), microprocessors, memory units (e.g., non-volatile memory units, volatile memory units, firmware, and/or non-transitory storage devices) adapted to store data and control instructions and/or software for operation of the vehicle  100 , other hardware or logic circuitry, etc. The controller  112  may be arranged as a single, integrated unit, e.g., integrated with the dash display  118 , or it may be arranged as a plurality of sub-units distributed throughout the vehicle  100 .  FIG.  4    schematically illustrates the controller  112  as including a processor, a microprocessor, other logic unit(s), circuitry, hardware, and/or firmware, collectively indicated by reference numeral  142 , memory unit(s)  144 , and software  146 , e.g., stored in a non-transitory computer readable storage medium as a set of instructions that are executable by a processor. For example, the controller  112  may include microprocessor adapted to execute the set of instructions stored in the non-transitory computer readable storage medium to perform the processes described herein. 
     The external devices may include, for example, a portable electronic device  136 , such as a smartphone, tablet, portable computer, laptop, notebook computer, etc., a remote server  138 , a non-portable electronic device, such as a desktop computer, etc. The external devices may be owned and/or operated by the owner of the vehicle  100 , the manufacture of the vehicle  100 , a dealer of the manufacture of the vehicle  100 , an authorized repair facility, a third-party reseller, an OEM supplier, an independent third party, etc. Thus, for example, the owner of the vehicle  100  may modify the power rating of their vehicle  100  utilizing an app or other function or system their smartphone  136  or personal computer  140  that is in communication, e.g., direct communication, with the controller  112  via the communication module  116 , e.g., via Bluetooth, WiFi, etc., connectivity between the smartphone  136  and the communication module  116 . Additionally or alternatively, the owner of the vehicle  100  may modify the power rating of their vehicle  100  utilizing their smartphone  136  or personal computer  140  that is in indirect communication with the controller  112 , e.g., via server  138 , which is in communication with the controller  112  via WiFi, cellular, etc., communication. Additionally or alternatively, the server  138  may be in communication with the controller  112  via WiFi, cellular, etc., communication so that the server  138  communicates with the controller  112  to change the power rating of the charger  114  without any involvement by the owner or operator of the vehicle  100 . Thus, for example, the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  may initiate the change of the power rating of the charger  114  via their portable electronic device  136  and/or non-portable electronic device  138 , either directly and/or via a server  138 , and/or the change of the power rating of the charger  114  may be initiated, e.g., pushed, to the vehicle  100  via the server  138  without any involvement by the owner or operator of the vehicle  100 . 
     As illustrated, for example, in  FIG.  4   , the portable electronic device  136 , the server  138 , and/or the non-portable electronic device  140  may communicate with the communication module  116 , e.g., wired and/or wirelessly, and such communication may be bidirectional. As also illustrated, for example, in  FIG.  4   , the portable electronic device  136 , the server  138 , and/or the non-portable electronic device may communicate with each other, e.g., wired and/or wirelessly, and such communication may be bidirectional. In a wireless configuration, the modification of the power rating of the charger  114  may be arranged as an over-the-air (OTA) modification or upgrade. 
     As an example, the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  may acquire the vehicle  100  and its standard, e.g., Level 1, charging cable. Thus, as delivered from the dealer or factory, the charger  114  may be adapted to charge the battery  108  at a first power rating, e.g., a lowest power rating, given the limited or minimal current that may be deliverable via the basic charging cable  120  from wall outlet  130  to socket  126 , as described in more detail above. The owner or operator of the vehicle  100  may subsequently acquire and/or install Level 2 charging equipment at their residence. To take advantage of the higher charging level, as compared to Level 1 charging, to reduce the time required to charge and/or recharge the battery  108 , the power rating of the charger  114  may be changed to accept the greater power of the Level 2 charging equipment. For example, the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  may have installed an app or other program or functionality on their portable electronic device  136  and/or non-portable electronic device  140  to change the power rating of the charger  114 , directly, e.g., via WiFi, Bluetooth, etc., communication, or indirectly, e.g., via server  138 . Additionally or alternatively, the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  may acquire, for example, the Level 2 charging equipment from the manufacture of the vehicle  100 , a dealer, third-party reseller, etc., which may, in turn, push the change of the power rating of the charger  114  to the vehicle  100  based on the acquisition of the charging equipment without any separate involvement by the owner or operator of the vehicle  100 , e.g., via server  138  in communication with the communication module  116  over a WiFi, cellular, etc., communication link. The non-portable electronic device  140  may, for example, be arranged as a workshop or dealer computer or diagnostic system that may be connected via a wired connection to the communication module  116 . Thus, the power rating of the charger  114  may be made at the time that the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  brings the vehicle  100  to a dealer or repair or service facility for service. While the change of the power rating of the charger  114  is described in relation to the change or acquisition of particular charging equipment, it should be understood that the power rating of the charger  114  may be changed independent of any change or acquisition of charging equipment. For example, the power rating of the charger  114  may be changed based on seasonal or time-based demands on the power grid, e.g., reduced during peak times and increased during off-peak times, reduced during a local heat wave and increased or restored after the heat wave passes, etc. Moreover, the power rating of the charger  114  may be changed as an upgrade, e.g., a purchased upgrade, from the manufacturer of the vehicle  100 . 
     In certain implementations, for example, those employing the IEC-62196 standard, the charging equipment, also referred to as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), may communicate or signal to the charger  114  of the vehicle  100  a maximum AC current, and the charger  114  may be required to not exceed that maximum AC current. The change of the power rating of the charger  114 , as described herein, may increase the possible current that the charger  114  may consume while not exceeding the limits of the EVSE. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  4   , for example, the controller  112  includes a memory  144 , e.g., volatile memory, non-volatile memory device, firmware, etc., which may store data indicative of the power rating of the charger  114 , at two or more power ratings. Thus, for example, the memory  144  may store first data indicative of a lowest power rating of the charger  114 , and this first data may be stored in the memory  144  at the time of manufacture or delivery of the vehicle  100 . The memory  144  may store second, third, etc., data indicative of a different, e.g., successively higher, power ratings of the charger  114 . Thus, the controller  112  may control the charger  114  to charge and/or recharge the battery  108  at a particular level, rate, or peak power output, based on the data stored in the memory  144  that is indicative of the power rating. Accordingly, changing the power rating of the charger  114  entails storing corresponding data in the memory  144 , e.g., based on communication between the communication module  116  and the portable electronic device  136 , server  138 , and/or non-portable electronic device. 
     The data stored in the memory  144  that indicates the power rating of the charger  114  may be changed to reflect an increase and/or decrease of the power rating of the charger  114 . Thus, for example, as the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  changes charging equipment, e.g., by upgrading or downgrading, the power rating of the charger  114  may be changed based on the data stored in the memory. It is also possible that the data stored in the memory  144  may be changed only to increase, or upgrade, the power rating of the charger  114  and that any increase of the power rating of the charger  114  is permanent and also associated with the particular vehicle to which the upgrade was applied, e.g., associated with the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the vehicle  100 . Therefore, the upgrade of the power rating of the charger  114  may remain with the vehicle  100  throughout the lifetime of the vehicle  100 , regardless of ownership or transfer of ownership of the vehicle  100 . 
     The change, e.g., upgrade, of the power rating of the charger  114  may be performed in the following manner. The portable electronic device  136  and/or non-portable electronic device  140  may include an app or other dedicated software stored and executable thereby and/or may access a website, e.g., a website of the manufacture of the vehicle  100 . The ability to change, e.g., upgrade, the power rating of the charger  114  may be presented to the user via the app, other software, or website, and the user may select that change, e.g., upgrade, to be applied to their vehicle  100 . For example, the user may be required to log into the app, other software, or website, e.g., via log in credentials, such as a username and password or other authentication mechanism. The particular vehicle  100  may be associated with the user, e.g., the owner, lessee, operator, etc., of the vehicle  100 . For example, the VIN of the vehicle  100  may be registered or associated with the log-in of the user, owner, or operator of the vehicle  100 . In certain implementations, the user, owner, or operator of the vehicle  100  may be required to register and create an account, profile, log-in, etc., and to associate their vehicle  100  with their account, profile, log-in, etc., based on, for example, the VIN of the vehicle  100 . 
     Owners that own or operate multiple vehicles  100 , e.g., a fleet of vehicles  100 , may select particular ones of the vehicles  100  that will have the power rating of their chargers  114  changed and/or may have the power rating of the charger  114  of all of their vehicles  100  changed. Upon the user&#39;s selection to change the power rating of their battery charger  114 , the user may place their selection into a virtual shopping cart and may apply any other options, such as, for example, the location of the vehicle  100 , e.g., to account for geographic differences or restrictions, for calculation of taxes, duties, surcharges, incentives, discounts, etc. The user may be required to purchase the change in the power rating of their battery charger  114 , and the app, other software, and/or website may be adapted to accept such payment. The payment may be made, for example, by electronic funds transfer from the user&#39;s financial institution, a credit or debit card, a cryptocurrency wallet, a financial or deposit account associated with the app, other software, and/or website, gift card, an online payment service or system, etc. The app, other software, and/or website may validate, for example, based on the VIN of the vehicle  100 , that the vehicle  100  is eligible for the change in the power rating of the charger  114  and that the power rating of the charger  114  can be changed, e.g., validating that the power rating of the charger  114  was not previously changed to the desired new or upgraded power rating. 
     After the validation, for example, any required payment is collected from the user and/or applied to the transaction, and an encrypted message is transmitted, for example, to a server, e.g., server  138 , which, in turn, generates a code, digital certificate, token, etc., based on the user&#39;s selection to change the power rating of the charger  114 , any options associated with that selection, and the VIN of the vehicle  100 . The code, digital certificate, token, etc., is transmitted to the vehicle  100  via, for example, the wired and/or wireless communication link between the portable electronic device  136 , the server  138 , the non-portable electronic device  140 , etc., and the vehicle  100 . The vehicle  100 , upon receipt of the code, digital certificate, token, etc., stores it, for example, in memory  144  of controller  112 , validates it, e.g., by controller  112 , and changes, e.g., permanently changes, the power rating of the charger  114  accordingly. The charger  114  itself may include a memory for storing the code, digital certificate, token, etc., or other information indicative of the power rating of the charger  114  and may charge and/or recharge the battery  108  battery based on the information contained in the memory of the charger  114  and/or based on information contained in the memory  144  of controller  112 . 
     The change in the power rating of the charger  114  is described above in relation to upgrading or changing of the charging equipment for charging and/or recharging the battery  108  of the vehicle  100 . However, it should be understood that the change in the power rating of the charger  114  may be made independent of any upgrade or change of the charging equipment. For example, it may be provided that the power rating of the charger  114  may be changed, e.g., increased, as an optional upgrade of the vehicle  100 , which the owner or operator of the vehicle  100  may acquire or purchase from the manufacture of the vehicle  100 , a dealer of the manufacture of the vehicle  100 , an authorized repair facility, a third-party reseller, an OEM supplier, an independent third party, etc. Moreover, the ability to change the power rating of the charger  114  may be based on the ability of or the capacity of, for example, the battery  108  to be charged and/or recharged at a greater level than the power rating of the charger  114  as set at the time of manufacture, purchase, delivery, and/or assembly of the vehicle  100 . For example, the performance, charge parameters, operating parameters, chemistry, voltage, etc., of the battery  108 , the charger  114 , etc., may be determined and/or monitored. Based on that determination and/or monitoring, it may be determined that the power rating of the charger  114  can be changed, e.g., increased, without sacrificing or negatively affecting performance, safety, etc., of the battery  108 , the charger  114 , other systems or components of the vehicle  100 , and, consequently, the power rating of the charger  114  is able to be changed, e.g., increased, as described herein. In other words, a change in the power rating of the charger  114  may be permitted, e.g., by the controller  112 , in the circumstance that it is safe to do so, that doing so would not negatively affect performance, etc., and a change in the power rating of the charger  114  may be prevented, e.g., by the controller  112 , in the circumstance that it is or might not be safe to do so, that doing so would or might negatively affect performance, etc. 
     It should be appreciated that other features of the vehicle  100  may be modified, changed, upgraded, downgraded, added, removed, etc., by the same or similar processes as that described above for changing the power rating of the vehicle  100 . For example, the processes described above for changing the power rating of the vehicle  100  may be utilized in corresponding manner to query and set, or activate, individual features with a respective encrypted token, such as setting an extended range of the vehicle, e.g., by increasing the accessible charge capacity of the battery  108 , boosting the power of the vehicle  100 , e.g., by increasing the power available to the motor  102 , providing for extended charging of the battery  108 , e.g., permitting charging of the battery  108  beyond its typical capacity, for example, to 110% of its typical capacity, for example, for long trips, to extend the range of the vehicle  100 , etc.