Patent ID: 8111043
Filing Date: 2012-02-07
Classification: B60L,Y02E,Y02T,Y04S

Abstract:
1. A charging station for an electric vehicle, said charging station comprising: a streetlight; a power source protected by a fuse, said fuse having a current rating, a first circuit connecting said streetlight to said power source, said streetlight drawing a first current through said first circuit, said first current not greater than said current rating when said streetlight is lit; a second circuit connecting a vehicle to said power source through an outlet, said vehicle drawing a second current through said second circuit when said vehicle is charging; a relay, said relay having a contact in series with said second circuit, said relay operable to complete said second circuit with said contact to allow charging the vehicle, said relay further operable to break said second circuit with said contact to not allow charging the vehicle; a third circuit, said third circuit comprising a first detector responsive to one of said first current and said streetlight being lit, said third circuit operatively connected to said relay to break said second circuit when said streetlight is lit; whereby said outlet is available for charging the vehicle when said streetlight is not lit.