A charge control apparatus for an electric vehicle that includes: a traction motor; a traction battery to which charging current is supplied from an external power source and that supplies current to the traction motor; and an electric device actuated by part of the charging current during charging of the traction battery is provided. The charge control apparatus includes: an instruction unit to instruct decrease of load of the electric device in case that the electric device is actuated during charging of the traction battery; a restriction unit to restrict the charging current after instruction of the decrease of load; and a load decreasing unit for decreasing load of the electric device after restricting the charging current.

A cloud system is configured to execute method operations for communicating with connected vehicles of users having user accounts with the cloud system. One example method includes receiving a signal from of an electric vehicle that is associated to a user account. The signal of the electric vehicle is received in response to the electric vehicle parking over a charging pad of a charging unit, and the charging unit is one of a plurality of charging units located in various geo-locations. The method includes sending instructions to the charging unit to enable initiation of charge transfer to a battery of the electric vehicle upon the cloud system confirming that the user account for the electric vehicle is enabled for automatic charging upon parking over said charging pad of the charging unit. The method includes receiving data from the charging unit indicative of a discontinuing of the charge transfer by the charging pad responsive to detecting that the electric vehicle is no longer parked over said charging pad.

A cloud system is configured to execute method operations for communicating with connected vehicles of users having user accounts with the cloud system. One example method includes receiving a signal from of an electric vehicle that is associated to a user account. The signal of the electric vehicle is received in response to the electric vehicle parking over a charging pad of a charging unit, and the charging unit is one of a plurality of charging units located in various geo-locations. The method includes sending instructions to the charging unit to enable initiation of charge transfer to a battery of the electric vehicle upon the cloud system confirming that the user account for the electric vehicle is enabled for automatic charging upon parking over said charging pad of the charging unit. The method includes receiving data from the charging unit indicative of a discontinuing of the charge transfer by the charging pad responsive to detecting that the electric vehicle is no longer parked over said charging pad.

A battery charge system includes an on board charge module, a high voltage battery pack unit and a controller. The on board charge module includes a power conversion device, a switching unit coupled to the power conversion device, and an electrothermal element coupled to the switching unit. The power conversion device includes an AC/DC converter and a bidirectional DC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter has an input terminal coupled to an AC terminal, and an output terminal coupled to an input terminal of the bidirectional DC/DC converter. The high voltage battery pack unit includes a first switching element and a high voltage battery pack. The high voltage battery pack is coupled through the first switching element to an output terminal of the bidirectional DC/DC converter. The controller is coupled to the power conversion device and the switching unit, and is configured to control the power conversion device and the switching unit.

A battery charge system includes an on board charge module, a high voltage battery pack unit and a controller. The on board charge module includes a power conversion device, a switching unit coupled to the power conversion device, and an electrothermal element coupled to the switching unit. The power conversion device includes an AC/DC converter and a bidirectional DC/DC converter. The AC/DC converter has an input terminal coupled to an AC terminal, and an output terminal coupled to an input terminal of the bidirectional DC/DC converter. The high voltage battery pack unit includes a first switching element and a high voltage battery pack. The high voltage battery pack is coupled through the first switching element to an output terminal of the bidirectional DC/DC converter. The controller is coupled to the power conversion device and the switching unit, and is configured to control the power conversion device and the switching unit.

A robot for charging a vehicle is provided. The robot has wheels or configured for a track for the robot to automatically move to the vehicle to provide charge to a battery of the vehicle. A charge storage is associated with the robot. An articulating arm of the robot. The articulating arm is configured for movement that enables the articulating arm to automatically connect to a connector of the vehicle after the robot moves in position beside the vehicle for providing charge to the battery of the vehicle.

A robot for charging a vehicle is provided. The robot has wheels or configured for a track for the robot to automatically move to the vehicle to provide charge to a battery of the vehicle. A charge storage is associated with the robot. An articulating arm of the robot. The articulating arm is configured for movement that enables the articulating arm to automatically connect to a connector of the vehicle after the robot moves in position beside the vehicle for providing charge to the battery of the vehicle.

A method for controlling heating of a hybrid vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a duct flowing air into the indoor of the hybrid vehicle from the outside, a heater core for circulating the coolant heated from an engine inside the duct, a PTC heater heated by the power supplied from a high-voltage battery of the hybrid vehicle inside the duct, and a controller. The controller operates the engine and the PTC heater and heats the air flowing into the indoor of the hybrid vehicle through the duct. The voltage supplied to the PTC heater from a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) is changed based on the state of the engine and an auxiliary battery for supplying power to an electric component of the vehicle to apply power to the PTC heater.

A method for controlling heating of a hybrid vehicle is provided. The vehicle includes a duct flowing air into the indoor of the hybrid vehicle from the outside, a heater core for circulating the coolant heated from an engine inside the duct, a PTC heater heated by the power supplied from a high-voltage battery of the hybrid vehicle inside the duct, and a controller. The controller operates the engine and the PTC heater and heats the air flowing into the indoor of the hybrid vehicle through the duct. The voltage supplied to the PTC heater from a low voltage DC-DC converter (LDC) is changed based on the state of the engine and an auxiliary battery for supplying power to an electric component of the vehicle to apply power to the PTC heater.

A vehicle includes power outlets configured to receive power from an inverter. The vehicle includes power sources configured to supply power to the inverter and a plurality of electrical systems. A controller is programmed to, responsive to detecting a load connected to one of the power outlets, change a maximum power limit of the electrical systems by an amount associated with the one of the power outlets.