A charging inlet assembly for an electric vehicle includes a charging inlet housing having a chamber at the rear and a power connector at a front for receiving a charging connector. The power connector includes terminal channels. The charging inlet assembly includes charging terminals each having a mating pin and a terminating end. The charging inlet assembly includes a terminal position assurance device coupled to the charging inlet housing having a terminal locating plate located in the chamber to interface with the terminating ends of the charging terminals. The terminal position assurance device includes an actuator at an exterior of the charging inlet housing to operate the terminal position assurance device from the exterior of the charging inlet housing.

A vehicle charging system includes a locking mechanism to secure a charge plug to a charge port of a vehicle. The system includes a wireless transceiver and a near field communication transceiver. The system further includes a controller programmed to, responsive to receiving a request to disengage the locking mechanism during charging, send the request to a vehicle owner via the wireless transceiver, and, responsive to receiving an unlock command via the wireless transceiver, disengage the locking mechanism.

An ECU performs processing including: a step of obtaining a pilot signal CPLT and a connector connection signal PISW; a step of determining, when a connector is attached, a type of the connector; a step of controlling, when there is a function corresponding to the type of the attached connector, the connector to be set to a lock state; a step of performing control corresponding to the attached connector; and a step of maintaining, when there is no function corresponding to the type of the attached connector, an unlock state of the connector.

The disclosure relates to an electrically operated vehicle having an electrical charging cable, by which a vehicle-side accumulator is chargeable by a vehicle-external power supply network in a charging procedure, wherein the charging cable can be unplugged from a vehicle-side terminal at least after completion of the charging procedure, in particular independently and without locking. According to the disclosure, the vehicle and/or the charging cable has a check function, which enables a charging cable usage if a usage authorization is present and blocks the charging cable usage if a usage authorization is not present.

An electric vehicle charging station such as a smart Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) with an integrated camera is provided. A networked on-charging station camera unit disposed either internally to the smart EVSE or connected externally on the smart EVSE. The camera unit includes at least one of a video camera and a still image camera. A communication module is coupled to the camera unit to communicate acquired camera data over a camera connection to a server or to a mobile device of a user over one or more public networks, one or more private networks, or a combination of one or more public networks and one or more private networks.

A connector to a soft lock receptacle includes a controller and a memory electrically coupled to the controller. During a user coupling the connector to the receptacle, the controller generates and stores a stored record in the memory. During the user attempting uncoupling the connector, the controller generates a re-obtained record. Responsive to the re-obtained record matching the stored record, the controller unlocks the connector.

The invention relates to a method (300) for securing an electric rental vehicle when returning/picking up the vehicle at a so-called rental site, said vehicle including at least one sensor for determining at least one state of an element of said vehicle, said method including the following steps: measuring (310, 320) at least one value of at least one parameter by said sensor means, comparing (310, 320) the value of said parameter with at least one predetermined value, and indicating (312, 322, 324) an anomaly if the value is not equal to the predetermined value. The invention also relates to a method for securing an electric rental vehicle when returning/picking up said vehicle, and to a secure vehicle.

A charge port assembly includes a port, an iris door movable to expose the port, and a motorized actuating assembly configured to move the iris door between a closed position in which the port is concealed and an open position in which the port is exposed. The iris door may be automatically dilated to the open position in response to a predefined prompt from an authorized user or if a charging cord is approaching the charge port assembly.

An ECU performs processing including: a step of obtaining a pilot signal CPLT and a connector connection signal PISW; a step of determining, when a connector is attached, a type of the connector; a step of controlling, when there is a function corresponding to the type of the attached connector, the connector to be set to a lock state; a step of performing control corresponding to the attached connector; and a step of maintaining, when there is no function corresponding to the type of the attached connector, an unlock state of the connector.

A connector to a soft lock receptacle includes a controller and a memory electrically coupled to the controller. During a user coupling the connector to the receptacle, the controller generates and stores a stored record in the memory. During the user attempting uncoupling the connector, the controller generates a re-obtained record. Responsive to the re-obtained record matching the stored record, the controller unlocks the connector.