Uber has only one patent family with three documents in the Energy Financial Settlement sector, but two of them—divisionals of the other—were published last week. They all relate to controlling the charging of electric vehicles based on signals determined from the current charge state of the EV, the electric grid’s current status, as well as power pricing information.

While it may take years before Uber offers widespread EV-riding services, the company has already begun its initiative in London last year. The company’s recent patent activity suggests that it may soon bring those initiatives to the US as well, with the goal of optimizing its fleet management while reducing charging costs and time.