Methods and Apparatus for Charging an Electric Vehicle

Abstract

A charging station for an electric vehicle includes a handle attached to a cable for carrying a current from the charging station to the battery of the electric vehicle to charge the battery. While the charging station is not charging an electric vehicle, the handle is positioned in a socket of the charging station. The charging station includes a locking mechanism for locking the handle in the socket while performing testing. The electric vehicle includes a receiver into which the handle is inserted for charging the battery of the electric vehicle. The handle includes structures that cooperate with a locking mechanism of the vehicle to lock the handle in the receiver while the battery the vehicle is charged. The cable and handle may be cooled by a liquid medium.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A charging station for charging a provided battery of a provided electric vehicle, the charging station comprising:
 a housing, the housing includes a socket;   a handle, the handle configured to be inserted into the socket, the handle further configured to be inserted into a receiver of the provided electric vehicle for charging the provided battery;   a test circuit, the test circuit configured to electrically couple to the handle, the test circuit further configured to perform a test on the handle; and   a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism configured to move the handle inward into the socket to electrical couple the handle to the test circuit, the locking mechanism configured to move the handle outward while the handle remains in the socket to electrically decouple the handle from the test circuit, the locking mechanism further configured to secure the handle in the socket while the handle electrically couples to the test circuit and while the test circuit performs the test on the handle; wherein:
 while the locking mechanism secures the handle in the socket, a user cannot remove the handle from the socket. 
   
     
     
         2 . The charging station of  claim 1  further comprising an electrical cable and a power supply, wherein:
 the electrical cable electrically couples the handle to the power supply; and 
 the test circuit is further configured to control the power supply to perform the test on the handle, whereby performing the test on the handle also tests the electrical cable. 
 
     
     
         3 . The charging station of  claim 2  wherein the test comprises driving a current through the handle and the electrical cable. 
     
     
         4 . The charging station of  claim 2  wherein the test comprises applying a voltage to the handle and the electrical cable. 
     
     
         5 . The charging station of  claim 2  wherein the test comprises measuring and impedance of an electrical path through the handle and the electrical cable. 
     
     
         6 . The charging station of  claim 2  wherein the test comprises applying a maximum voltage to the handle and the electrical cable. 
     
     
         7 . The charging station of  claim 2  wherein the test comprises directing a maximum current through the handle and the electrical cable. 
     
     
         8 . The charging station of  claim 2  wherein the test comprises detecting a temperature of the handle in the electrical cable. 
     
     
         9 . The charging station of  claim 1  wherein the test circuit is further configured to control the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         10 . The charging station of  claim 1  wherein:
 the test circuit is configured to control the locking mechanism to engage the locking mechanism with the handle to secure the handle in the socket; and 
 the test circuit is configured to control the locking mechanism to disengage the locking mechanism from the handle so that the handle may be removed from the socket. 
 
     
     
         11 . The charging station of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism includes a resilient force for moving the handle inward into the socket. 
     
     
         12 . The charging station of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism includes a resilient force for moving the handle outward while the handle remains in the socket. 
     
     
         13 . The charging station of  claim 1  wherein the locking mechanism includes a mechanical structure configured to secure the handle in the socket. 
     
     
         14 . The charging station of  claim 1  further comprising an electrical cable, wherein:
 the electrical cable includes a first conductor, a second conductor, a first channel and a second channel; 
 the handle includes a third conductor, a fourth conductor, a third channel and a fourth channel; 
 the first conductor electrically couples to the third conductor; 
 the second conductor electrically couples to the fourth conductor; 
 the first channel couples to the third channel; and 
 the second channel couples to the fourth channel. 
 
     
     
         15 . The charging station of  claim 14  wherein the test comprises driving a current through a circuit that includes the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor and the fourth conductor. 
     
     
         16 . The charging station of  claim 14  wherein the test comprises applying a voltage between the first conductor and the third conductor. 
     
     
         17 . The charging station of  claim 14  wherein the test comprises measuring and impedance of the first conductor, the second conductor, the third conductor and the fourth conductor. 
     
     
         18 . The charging station of  claim 14  the test comprises pumping a cooling medium through the first channel, the second channel, the third channel and the fourth channel. 
     
     
         19 . The charging station of  claim 1  further comprising an indicator, wherein:
 the indicator is positioned at least partially on an exterior of the housing so as to be visible to a user; and 
 indicia of an amount of charge held by the provided battery of the provided electric vehicle is presented on the indicator. 
 
     
     
         20 . The charging station of  claim 19  wherein the indicator further provide information as to an operating status of the charging station including presently charging, idle, available, not available, self-test, inoperable and charging completed.