A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices. To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source. As demand at individual collection, charging and distribution machines increases or decreases relative to other collection, charging and distribution machines, a distribution management system initiates redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices from one collection, charging and distribution machine to another collection, charging and distribution machine in an expeditious manner. Also, redeemable incentives are offered to users to return or exchange their portable electrical energy storage devices at selected collection, charging and distribution machines within the network to effect the redistribution.

The invention relates to a safety device (4) for a contactor (2) connected between a secondary battery and an electrical power network, in particular of a motor vehicle that can be driven electrically, comprising at least one electronic evaluating unit (6), which can be connected to at least one electrical component of the secondary battery by means of a communication connection (5), and at least one safety switch (8), which can be controlled by means of the electronic evaluating unit (6) and which can be arranged in an electrical control circuit (7) of the contactor (2), wherein the electronic evaluating unit (6) is designed to receive at least one component-specific piece of actual information (12) from the electrical component via the communication connection (5), to compare the received piece of actual information (12) with at least one piece of target information stored in the electronic evaluating unit (6), and to control the safety switch (8) in dependence on a result of the comparison in such a way that the electronic evaluating unit closes the safety switch (8) if the piece of actual information (12) corresponds with the piece of target information and opens the safety switch (8) if the piece of actual information (12) does not correspond with the piece of target information.

A vehicle-side connector (10) is connectable to a charging connector (1) for charging a battery in a vehicle and includes a housing (30) on the vehicle such that the charging connector (1) can fit therein from the front. Terminal fittings (11) connected respectively to wires (20P, 20S) are drawn out from the interior of the vehicle including the battery. Terminal accommodating chambers (40) are provided in the housing (30) and the respective terminal fittings (11) are inserted therein from behind. Each terminal fitting (11) is a round pin terminal (12) with a terminal connecting portion (13) on one end for connection to a charging terminal in the charging connector (1) and a wire connecting portion (14) on the other end to be crimped to an end of the wire (20P, 20S). The terminal connecting portion (13) is retained in the terminal accommodating chamber (40).

A system and method is provided for detecting vehicle proximity in an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). A sensor may be configured to detect a presence of a vehicle within a predetermined distance of the EVSE. A processor may be configured to determine that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE in response to the sensor detecting the presence of the vehicle. The processor may be further configured to generate an alert in response to a determination that the vehicle is in proximity of the EVSE.

A vehicle-mounted apparatus comprising: a communication unit which is connected to the charger/discharger and exchanges information with the charger/discharger; an input unit receiving various types of information; a storage unit which uses the information acquired through the input unit and the communication unit to store: a vehicle ID identifying the vehicle; a charger/discharger ID identifying the charger/discharger which can be connected to the vehicle; and history information indicating a history of charges and discharges for the vehicle, which are related to one another; and a presentation unit presenting to a user of the vehicle, the history information stored in the storage unit in relation to a pair of the vehicle ID and the charger/discharger which charges/discharges the vehicle and is identified by the charger/discharger ID.

A lock device includes an inlet arranged in a vehicle and having an inlet housing into which a charge cable is insertable. A lock mechanism is capable of locking the charge cable to the inlet. The lock device includes a lock mechanism attachment portion arranged in the inlet housing and enabling attachment of the lock mechanism to the inlet housing. The lock device may be located on an outer surface of the inlet housing and may include a movable lock pin that serves to retain a lock arm of the charge cable and may also be used to retain a lid for closing the inlet. With this system the inlet housing and lock mechanism form a single unit for ease of assembly.

The present invention relates to an operating system for a battery exchange station and an operating method for a battery exchange station by using same. The operating system for a battery exchange station, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a plurality of battery exchange stations; a terminal on which a dedicated application is installed, and which receives an application and service information, input from a user, for a delivery service that performs battery delivery between the plurality of battery exchange stations; and an operating server which communicates with the plurality of battery exchange stations and the terminal, wherein the operating server may determine an arrival station for the battery delivery on the basis of a degree of battery exchange congestion determined for each of the plurality of battery exchange stations.

A cable storage system including a housing having a top portion, a bottom portion, and an opening, a drive pulley within the top portion of the housing, a cable at least partially contained in the housing having a proximal end in the housing and a distal end outside of the housing, the cable extending over the drive pulley and through the opening, and a motor driving the drive pulley to extend or retract the cable via the opening in response to a signal. The bottom portion of the housing is sized to permit the cable, in a retracted configuration, to hang in the bottom portion of the housing.

An adapter for EV supply equipment (EVSE). The EVSE can have an EVSE connector for charging a PEV. The EVSE connector provides a first connector corresponding to a first charging protocol. The adapter can include a body, a first coupling disposed on the body and configured to engage the first connector, a second coupling disposed on the body and corresponding to a second charging protocol, the body converting the first charging protocol to the second charging protocol, and a lock configured to maintain the body in a locked configuration to the EVSE connector or to the EVSE while allowing the adapter to switch between being locked to the EVSE connector or to the EVSE.

A vehicle battery device comprising a vehicle battery is described. The vehicle battery has a first identifier and a second identifier. The first identifier is publicly ascertainable and associated to a discrete vehicle battery. The first identifier represents the associated vehicle battery to be uniquely distinct from other vehicle batteries. The second identifier is different from the first identifier, an electronically retrievable identifier, confidential, and ascertainable by conformance with a security protocol.