A charging station for electric vehicles includes a solar array for converting solar energy into electricity. A curved column is provided for holding the solar array at an upper end of the column. Its lower end is affixed to a platform for stability. An equipment enclosure is attached to the upper end of the curved column for holding electronic and mechanical components that, respectively, collect and store solar energy from the solar array and operationally move the solar array for this purpose. Additionally, a control unit is included with the electronic and mechanical components in the equipment enclosure to monitor vehicle charging operations. For protective purposes, the equipment enclosure is located on the curved column at an elevated height above the stability platform, to prevent flood damage and avoid theft or vandalism.

Disclosed are a battery replacement device (1″) and a control method therefor. The battery replacement device (1″) is used for mounting a battery on an electric vehicle, and sending a security message to a battery lock (2″) to unlock the battery, so that the battery is electrically connected to the electric vehicle.

Provided is an electric scooter with a top-swappable battery. In some embodiments, the electric scooter a frame having an opening, and a removable deck assembly disposed in the opening, the removable deck assembly comprising a deck having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a battery pack attached to the lower surface of the deck.

This disclosure describes manual release systems for electrified vehicle charge port locks. In some embodiments, a vehicle key may be used to manually override a position of the charge port lock. In other embodiments, a pull button and cable arrangement may be used to manually override the position of the charge port lock. The pull button may be packaged under a vehicle hood and, in some embodiments, may be mounted to either a cooling system component or a grille support structure.

A system and method for locking a charging port to charge an electric vehicle that includes determining that the electric vehicle is located within a predetermined distance of a charging station and determining when the charging port of an electric vehicle supply equipment of the charging station is attached to the electric vehicle to actively charge the electric vehicle. The system and method also include determining if the charging station accesses a parking citation associated with parking of the electric vehicle if the electric vehicle is not attached to the charging port. The system and method additionally include locking the charging port to the electric vehicle to disallow decoupling of the charging port from the electric vehicle by an unauthorized individual to avoid the parking citation.

The present invention relates to a stopper-type charging device and a driving method thereof, wherein the stopper-type charging device includes an emergency bell unit that is provided on a main body part of a stopper for a vehicle installed on a floor of a parking lot and operates to prevent crime in a surveillance blind spot in the parking lot, a light emitting unit that guides a vehicle parked in the parking lot to be parked in a parking section for charging, and operates as a flash to illuminate a periphery of the vehicle, and a sensor unit that detects a fire by detecting a flame of the vehicle being charged.

The invention relates to a charging plug (100) for coupling to a corresponding plug connection (200) and for transmitting electrical energy, said charging plug comprising a charging plug housing (110) having a latching body (10) which is provided for establishing a detachable frictional and/or interlocking connection between the charging plug (100) and the plug connection (200) together with a corresponding latching body (20) of the plug connection (200), the latching body (10) having at least one detecting element (11) in a portion of the latching body (10) which is provided for frictional and/or interlocking connection to the corresponding latching body (20), and the charging plug housing (110) having at least one sensor unit (111) by means of which the detecting element (11).

This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for detecting foreign objects. In one aspect an apparatus for detecting a presence of an object is provided. The apparatus includes a resonant circuit having a resonant frequency. The resonant circuit includes a sense circuit including an electrically conductive structure. The apparatus further includes a coupling circuit coupled to the sense circuit. The apparatus further includes a detection circuit coupled to the sense circuit via the coupling circuit. The detection circuit is configured to detect the presence of the object in response to detecting a difference between a measured characteristic that depends on a frequency at which the resonant circuit is resonating and a corresponding characteristic that depends on the resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The coupling circuit is configured to reduce a variation of the resonant frequency by the detection circuit in the absence of the object.

In one aspect the present disclosure provides a system for charging electric vehicles both AC and DC using only two conductors comprising a cable having two ends one of which is attached to a connector and the other end to a plug and only two charging conductors that extend from one end of the cable to the other and either, one or more switches to receive the current from an AC or DC input and direct it based on a type of the current to an AC or DC output and to stop the current if the corresponding port is not available. The system also has a control mechanism for preventing the delivery of the current to the wrong port of the connector.

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.