Cross-Reference Electric Vehicle Charge Data for Billing

摘要

Implementations of the present invention contemplate using the communicative connections between a telematics unit in a vehicle and a telematics service provider (TSP) to transmit information pertaining to a vehicle charging event from the vehicle to the TSP. Implementations further contemplate comparing such with information independently furnished to the TSP by a charge station or a communication service associated with a charge station. The present invention facilitates the charging of electric vehicles at charging stations by reducing the inconvenience associated with paying for the electrical power obtained from the charging station. By transferring the billing functions to a TSP, implementations of the present invention also enable charging stations to do away with equipment required for billing customers at the point of sale and thereby limit the costs of building such charging stations.

主权项

1. A method, implemented by a telematics service provider (TSP), for billing a subscriber of the TSP for electrical power received by a plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) during a charging event at a charging station, the method comprising:
receiving, at a computer readable medium, data pertaining to the charging event sent from a telematics unit of the PEV; receiving data generated by the charging station and pertaining to the charging event; determining that the data received from the telematics unit matches the data generated by the charging station; and authorizing billing of the subscriber for the electrical power received during the charging event.