Importance

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Abstract

A charging station for electric vehicles which have rechargeable batteries is provided. The charging station comprises a power section controlled by a fast acting power controller, a power connector and associated power cables for connecting to the vehicle, an interface with signal cables to carry status and/or control signals between the vehicle and the power controller, and a lockout which precludes delivery of power to the vehicle except when the power connector is in place. High charging currents are delivered to the battery of the vehicle as a consequence of signals at any instant in time to the power controller, so as to be able to turn delivery of the charging current on and off in less than a few milliseconds. The resistance free voltage of the vehicle battery is measured during intervals when the charging current is off, and the operation of the power controller is a function of the battery resistance free voltage at any instant in time. Operation may be manually controlled, whereby at least maximum voltage and current settings are preset by the operator; or operation may be completely automatic and under the control of a charge controller within the vehicle and associated with the battery. Thus, for each vehicle that is equipped with a charge controller, the operation of the charging station is battery specific, and may be quite different as to conditions of voltage and current being delivered to another electric vehicle which may be subsequently re-charged from the same charging station.

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First Claim