The present disclosure provides an inlet control system and apparatus for an electric vehicle. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an inlet control system and apparatus for an electric vehicle that permit the connector of the charging cable to be released from the inlet of the electric vehicle connected thereto only when an authorized user having a release control apparatus is adjacent to the electric vehicle regardless of whether one end of the charging cable connected to a power source is removed or not and prohibit release of the connector of the charging cable from the inlet of the electric vehicle when the user having the release control apparatus moves away from the electric vehicle.

Methods and systems for monitoring a vehicle. In a parked state of the vehicle, the control unit of the vehicle is deactivated, and the signals of some of the sensors of the vehicle are detected and evaluated by way of a separate detecting unit. If, based on the sensor signals evaluated in this way, a defined event is detected, the previously deactivated control unit can be activated. Thus, the operating time of the control unit is minimized over the total life span of the vehicle.

A method for charging a traction energy storage device of an at least partially electrically driven vehicle includes detecting an interruption of a charging process, and determining a parameter which represents a reason for the interruption of the charging process. The method also includes performing at least one of the following measures as a function of the determined parameter: continuing the charging process in an unchanged or changed fashion, and performing a specific signaling process.

A locking device for a plug connector half, whereby the locking device is driven by an electric motor, for establishing an electrical connection to another plug connector half in order to charge an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle by plugging the other plug connector half into the plug connector half. The locking device comprises a movable locking pin for locking the other plug connector half that has been plugged into the plug connector half, and a sensor element that is arranged on the locking pin and is in the form of a conductor track structure, it being possible to establish an electrical contact with the conductor track structure by means of resilient contact tabs and to provide a means for protecting the contact tabs at least in the region of the contact tabs.

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.

The present application relates to the field of charging electrical apparatuses, and more particularly, to a charging authorization approach for objects to be recharged, an automatic authorization approach and system for charging apparatuses. The present application intends to solve the problem of complicate authentication procedure and poor user experience when a charging apparatus authenticates an electric vehicle in the prior art. The automatic authorization approach for charging apparatuses of the application comprises the following steps: plugging a charging gun of said charging apparatus into a charging port of an object to be recharged and hence activating a first authentication device; said first authentication device sending an authentication request information; a second authentication device receiving said authentication request information and matching it to a prestored valid authentication information; determining whether said charging apparatus should charge said object to be recharged based on the matching result. With the approach of the application, it only requires a user to plug the charging gun into the charging port of the electric vehicle, in order for the charging apparatus to automatically authenticate the electric vehicle, which makes the authentication procedure simpler, and no other authentication operations are required from the user, so that the charging experience of an electric vehicle user is considerably improved.

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 smart key searching apparatus includes a start button for selecting engine start or stop, a wireless charger performing wireless charging in a resonant magnetic coupling manner and transmitting an authentication request signal to a smart key, a radio frequency (RF) receiver receiving a response signal regarding the authentication request signal transmitted from the smart key, and a smart key controller requesting, when the start button is operated, the wireless charger to search for a smart key, and controlling power and engine ignition of a vehicle according to a response signal received through the RF receiver.

An exemplary locking assembly includes, among other things, a lock that transitions between a first state that prevents disengaging electric vehicle supply equipment from a charge port and a second state that permits the disengaging. A control module is configured to command the lock to transition from the first to the second state in response to a user interaction with a selector device and an authentication of the user interaction. An exemplary securing method includes, among other things, receiving a request to disengage electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) from a charge port of a vehicle, permitting a disengaging if the request can be authenticated, and preventing the disengaging if the request cannot be authenticated.

A method for communicating between an electric vehicle and a charging station for electrically charging at least one energy storage device of the electric vehicle. The electric vehicle is connected to the charging station during the charging process by a lockable mechanical coupling between a terminal of charging cable connected to the vehicle and a terminal of the charging station. Charging current is fed from the charging station through the charging cable. Information is transferred in the course of the charging process based on a communication between the electric vehicle and the charging station. The information includes a signal transmitted from the electric vehicle to the charging station for locking and/or unlocking the mechanical coupling. The signal triggers the locking and/or unlocking of the mechanical coupling between the terminal of the charging cable and the terminal at the charging station.