TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a method for exploiting a network of charging stations intended to recharge a set of electric vehicles. The invention also relates to a charging station suitable for implementing a method according to the invention.

PRIOR ART

The development of electric vehicles is limited by current difficulties with recharging the batteries of vehicles. In particular, the driver of an electric vehicle is never certain that the will be able to access a charging station when he is making a long journey.

To attempt to solve this problem, Internet sites provide the addresses of electrical charging stations. The number of referenced stations is however limited. Furthermore, the driver never knows whether the charging station that he has the intention of using will be available at the desired time.

Lastly, in “un-served” zones not covered by a GSM cell phone network, the driver may encounter difficulties when attempting to reserve a station.

There is therefore a need for an at least partial solution to these problems.

One objective of the invention is to meet this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention proposes a method for exploiting a network of stations intended to recharge with electrical power a set of motor vehicles, the method comprising the following successive steps:a) a step in which a reservation is made, with the vehicle, via a reservation center, preferably by means of a cell phone network, by carrying out the following steps:a1) a step in which the vehicle makes a request, to the center, to reserve said station, the reservation request setting constraints;a2) a step in which the center checks, in a schedule, the availability of a station meeting said constraints;a3) if a station meeting the constraints is available, a step in which the center transmits, to the vehicle, a positive response comprising access data that permit access to the station, updates the schedule and records the access data in a memory of the vehicle; otherwise preferably, the center transmits, to the vehicle, a negative response to the reservation request;b) if the vehicle has received a positive response to the reservation request, when the vehicle is less than 100 m, preferably less than 50 m, or even less than 10 m from the station, a step in which the vehicle requests access to the station, the access request comprising the following successive steps:b1) a step in which the vehicle transmits the access data to the station;b2) a step in which the station checks the access data;b3) if the access data are valid, a step in which the station provides access to the electrical power available via a socket of the station; otherwise preferably, the station transmits an access denial to the vehicle;c) preferably, at the end of charging, a step in which the station transmits charging data to the vehicle, and in which the charging data are stored in the memory of the vehicle;d) preferably, a step in which charging data are transmitted from the vehicle to the center.

Noteworthily, the communication between the vehicle and the station in step b) and preferably in step c) is a local electromagnetic communication, i.e. one that is possible only when the vehicle is in proximity to the station, for example less than 100 m, preferably less than 50 m, or even less than 10 m from the station.

A local electromagnetic communication allows direct communication between the station and the vehicle, no relay of the transmission being required. Generally, it does not require a subscription. The local electromagnetic communication is preferably a Bluetooth® communication.

Advantageously, the communication between the vehicle and the station is therefore possible even when the station is located in an un-served zone, for example in an underground parking lot or in an isolated region.

The method furthermore allows the schedule of the center to be updated via conventional wireless radiophonic means once the vehicle returns to a zone permitting such a communication, for example when it exits from the underground parking lot.

The method may in particular further comprise one or more of the following optional features:the local electromagnetic communication is at a frequency comprised between 2400 and 2500 MHz;the local electromagnetic communication is a Bluetooth® communication;in step a), the reservation of the station via the reservation center is carried out by means of a cell phone network;the station is located in an un-served zone not covered by a cell phone network;the network of stations comprises more than 5000 stations;in step a), the identification of a station to satisfy the reservation request dependson a constraint relating to the geographical location of the station, andon a constraint relating to the time at which the battery of the vehicle is to be recharged;the identification of a station to satisfy the reservation request further dependson a constraint relating to a level of charge that the batteries of the vehicle will have at the time at which the center believes the vehicle will arrive at the station, and/ora constraint relating to a level of charge requested by the vehicle at the end of the recharging;in step a), if the center is unable to find a station satisfying the reservation request, the center proposes modifications to at least one constraint set by the reservation request;the center generates an access code on each reservation request, and the station is configured to inspect the validity of the access code received from the vehicle;the center informs the vehicle of other requests to reserve the station reserved by the vehicle.

The invention also relates to an electrical charging station comprising:a socket suitable for delivering electrical power to an electric vehicle;a casing that is fastened with respect to the ground, and preferably fastened to the ground;a holder in or into which the socket is fastened or integrated, said holder being movable with respect to the casing;a control module for controlling the position of the holder with respect to the casing,
the holder being movable between a protected position and an exposed position, in which positions access to the socket, from outside the casing, is prevented and permitted, respectively.

The station may in particular furthermore comprise one or more of the following optional features:the casing comprises an aperture that is blocked in the protected position and that defines an access to the socket in the exposed position;the holder is movable in the casing between the protected and exposed positions;the holder is arranged so as to block the aperture in the exposed position;the holder is rotationally movable, in the casing, about an axis X, between the protected and exposed positions;the holder is arranged so as to block the aperture whatever the angular position of the holder with respect to the casing;in protected position, the socket is separated from the exterior environment by a shield for protecting against shocks;the shield lies, at least partially, opposite the socket with respect to the axis X of rotation of the holder;in the protected position, the socket is separated from the exterior surface of the casing, i.e. the surface which is exposed to the environment when the casing is fastened to the wall or to the ground, by a distance larger than 2 cm, and preferably larger than 5 cm;the control module comprises a transceiver able to communicate via Bluetooth®;the station comprises an image-acquiring apparatus controlled by the control module;the image-acquiring apparatus is fastened to the holder, the control module being configured to control the driving means so as to move the acquiring apparatus between an acquiring position and a stowed position in which the objective of the acquiring apparatus is exposed to and isolated from the environment outside the casing, respectively.

