The world of electric vehicles (EVs) may soon see a major improvement in charger accessibility, thanks to a new patent from Carnegie Mellon University. This patented idea, with the patent number (US11752892B2), aims to solve a pertinent issue in the realm of electric vehicles. For many, the challenge isn't just about buying an EV, but also about easy access to charging ports, akin to traditional gas stations for fossil fuel-driven vehicles.
The current pattern of charger placement often results in under-utilized charge points, leading to inefficient resource allocation and in some instances, chargers positioned such that an EV couldn't reach before draining its battery. This represents not just a logistical inconvenience, but also a financial drain, as underused infrastructure garners scant return on investment.
Carnegie Mellon’s patent provides a solution to this problem by optimizing the positioning of EV chargers. It uses simulated vehicle trips, where battery status and local weather conditions are monitored, fine-tuning positioning strategies for individual types of EVs such as cars, motorcycles, trucks, or even planes.
The impact of this optimized charger placement could be immense, both for individuals and for society at large. On a personal level, rather than getting stuck in the middle of a journey due to an empty battery and lack of accessible charging infrastructure, EV owners would find charging points more efficiently placed. This would allow seamless travel, unconstrained by the "battery anxiety" that often accompanies EV journeys.
On a broader societal level, this could be the step change converts more people to EVs, helping reduce carbon emissions and bringing us closer to a more sustainable, clean-energy based future. Cities could also utilize this system to more efficiently meet their EV charging infrastructure needs, optimizing their investments and conserving resources.
However, it is important to note that, while this patent provides a promising direction, there's a journey from patent to application, and even with a compelling idea, there is no certainty that this will translate into a marketable, widely-used product.
P.S.: It's also worth noting that patents are exclusive rights for inventions, which could mean a barrier for wider adoption until the patent expires. Yet in the case of technology such as this, such barriers could be bypassed if the patent holders allow its use through licensing agreements, for instance. With this, the invention could still serve as a blueprint for future advancements in charger placements, making the EV journey smoother than ever before.