Abstract:
A method of charging an electric vehicle (EV) includes receiving a user&#39;s authentication code in an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) from a user&#39;s mobile device, comparing in the EVSE the user&#39;s authentication code to a whitelist having a plurality of authorized user authentication codes, and enabling an electric vehicle (EV) charging transaction serviced by the EVSE in response to the comparing of the user&#39;s authentication code to the whitelist so that a user&#39;s authentication code is authenticated to enable the EV charging transaction without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remote server.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of Provisional Application No. 62/086,667, filed Dec. 2, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The field of the invention relates to portable and fixed electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE). 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    A charging station or Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) is used to provide high levels of power to electric vehicles (EVs) safely by only energizing the EVSE&#39;s power cable and supplying power to the EV when the EVSE detects that it is connected to an EV. In addition to the wires for carrying the electricity from the EVSE to the EV, the EVSE&#39;s power cable has a pilot line, which when the EVSE is plugged into an EV, connects the EVSE&#39;s and the EV&#39;s control systems and allows communication. The EVSE will only supply power when the EV is connected to the EVSE, and the EVSE will automatically shut off the power to the EV when the EVSE is disconnected from the EV. 
         [0006]    When installed in a public location, turning the EVSE&#39;s power on may require an external authorization from a home office. This external authorization allows the EVSE&#39;s owner/operator to control who may use the EVSE, how long it may be used, as well as to obtain payment for its use. One example of such an EVSE system is shown in  FIG. 1  (prior art), where an EVSE system  100  includes a connector  105 , such as a J1772 compliant connector for connecting to an EV  145 , a power cable  110  for communicating power and communications to the EV  145 , a power switch or relay  115  to switch AC power between a utility power supply  120  and the connector  105 , an EVSE control system  125  for selectively switching on/off the power switch  115 , a system box  130  encompassing the power switch  115  and EVSE control system  125 , a control interface  135  to accept input from a user, a pilot line  140  for communication between a connected EV  145  and the EVSE control system  125 , a user activation card  150 , a wireless communication system  155  for the EVSE control system  125  to communicate back to an EVSE home office  160  through a wireless connection  165  that includes a cell tower  167 , and a wired communication system  170  for the EVSE control system  125  to communicate back to an EVSE home office  160  without a wireless connection  165 . Upon connection to the EV  145 , the EVSE system  100  may be activated by either using the control interface  135 , such as a keypad or a touch screen and/or via the activation card  150 , such as an RFID card. The interface  135  is connected to the control system  125  which can activate the power switch  115  to switch power to the EV  145 . When authorization is required, the EVSE control system  125  will use the wired communication  170  to contact a home office  160  via a two-way communication system such as a telephone connection or via an internet connection. Alternatively, the control system  125  can use the wireless system  155  to contact the home office  160 , where the wireless system  155  is a cell phone system. 
         [0007]    Another activation method is for the user to use his/her cell phone  175  to either call the home office  160  or, in the case of a smart phone, to wirelessly connect to the home office  160  via the internet (typically using a phone number or website set forth on the system box  130 ). Upon authorization (and typically payment), the home office  160  will then signal the EVSE control system  125 , via either the wired  170  or wireless  165  connections, to activate the charging of the EV. 
         [0008]    As can be seen, regardless of the means (cell phone or control interface) that the user uses to interface with the EVSE system  100 , to obtain authorization to charge the EV requires that either the wired  170  or wireless  155  connections be in place and functioning. Such wired or wireless connection can be expensive and time consuming to install and operate and their operations may be limited by bandwidth restrictions. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    A method of charging an electric vehicle (EV) includes receiving a user&#39;s authentication code in an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) from a user&#39;s mobile device, comparing in the EVSE the user&#39;s authentication code to a whitelist having a plurality of authorized user authentication codes, and enabling an electric vehicle (EV) charging transaction serviced by the EVSE in response to the comparing of the user&#39;s authentication code to the whitelist so that a user&#39;s authentication code is authenticated to enable the EV charging transaction without concurrent access of the EVSE to an EVSE-related remote server. The method may also include receiving the whitelist in the EVSE from an administrator mobile device so that the EVSE receives the whitelist without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remote server. The step of receiving the whitelist may also include receiving the whitelist wirelessly from a mobile device, and the mobile device may be a smartphone. In some embodiments, the step of receiving a whitelist includes receiving the whitelist from a smartphone having a direct wired connection with the EVSE. The method may include providing power through a power cable in response to enabling the EV charging transaction. In such embodiments, the method may also include receiving a second occurrence of the user&#39;s authentication code in the EVSE from the user&#39;s mobile device and sending by the EVSE an electrical current indication to the user&#39;s mobile device of a previous EV charging transaction in response to receiving the second occurrence of the user&#39;s authentication code. Or, the method may include receiving a second occurrence of a user&#39;s authentication code in the EVSE from a user&#39;s mobile device in response to connecting the EVSE to the mobile device and sending by the EVSE a current indication to the user&#39;s mobile device of a previous EV charging transaction in response to receiving the second occurrence of the user&#39;s authentication code. Connecting the EVSE to the mobile device wirelessly and automatically as the mobile device comes within wireless range of the EVSE may be part of the inventive method, and may include providing power through the power cable for up to 10 hours in response to the enabling of the EV charging transaction. 
         [0010]    A method is also disclosed for charging an electric vehicle (EV), that includes receiving a user&#39;s authentication code in a wireless interface module from a user&#39;s mobile device, the Bluetooth interface module in communication with an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE), comparing in the wireless interface module the user&#39;s authentication code to a whitelist stored in the wireless interface module, the whitelist having a plurality of authorized user authentication codes, and enabling an EV charging transaction serviced by the EVSE in response to the comparison of the user&#39;s authentication code to the whitelist so that a user&#39;s authentication code is authenticated to enable the EV charging transaction without concurrent access to an EVSE-related remote server. The wireless interface module may be selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth wireless module and Wi-Fi wireless module. The user&#39;s authentication code may be received in the wireless interface module directly from the user&#39;s mobile device. The method may also include providing power through a power cable in response to enabling the EV charging transaction and, in such embodiments, the method may include receiving a second occurrence of the user&#39;s authentication code in the wireless interface module from the user&#39;s mobile device and sending by the wireless interface module an electrical current indication to the user&#39;s mobile device of a previous EV charging transaction in response to receiving the second occurrence of the user&#39;s authentication code. 
         [0011]    A method of using a mobile device to control charging of an electric vehicle (EV) may include entering a user authentication code into a mobile device, establishing a wireless communication between an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) and the mobile device, sending the user&#39;s authentication code from the mobile device to the EVSE, and receiving in the mobile device a charge amount indication. The charge amount indication may be a current indication and current charge time. Alternatively, the charge amount indication may be a total power consumed indication. The method may also include receiving in the mobile device an EVSE invitation to connect signal, accepting the EVSE invitation to connect signal, requesting by the mobile device an electric vehicle (EV) charge rate from a charge rate service provider, and receiving the EV charge rate in the mobile device. The step of sending the user&#39;s authentication code from the mobile device to the EVSE may be made in response to selection of a charge rate. 
         [0012]    An electrical vehicle service equipment (EVSE) apparatus may include a wireless personal area network (PAN) module, an electric vehicle service equipment (EVSE) control module in electrical communication with the PAN module, a pilot line in communication with the EVSE control module, and an EVSE power relay in communication with the EVSE control module. The PAN module may be in communication with the EVSE control module through the pilot line. The EVSE control module may include the PAN module. In some embodiments, the EVSE power switch may be seated in an EVSE control box and the EVSE control box may be detachably coupled to a power receptacle. In other embodiments, the PAN module may be a Bluetooth interface module or a Wi-Fi interface module. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The components in the figures are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the different views. 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art EVSE system that is in communication with an EVSE home office through both wired and cellular wireless communication links; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of an EVSE system that has neither a wired nor cellular wireless communication link to an EVSE office, but that enables remote authentication and subsequent data transmission of an EV charging transaction through a user&#39;s mobile device, with the EVSE system having a portable cord set; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of EVSE system that enables remote authentication and subsequent data transmission of an EV charging transaction through a user&#39;s mobile device, with the EVSE system having a non-portable cord set; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of administering and using an EVSE with mobile devices; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a flow diagram of one embodiment of a method of using a mobile device with EVSEs; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an EVSE system having a wireless interface module in short-range wireless communication with a user&#39;s smartphone and connected to the connector of the power cord; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of an EVSE control module in communication with the connector of the power cord; 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a flow chart describing one implementation of the method illustrated in  FIG. 4  for administering and using an EVSE with mobile devices using the wireless interface material to store the whitelist for internal comparison to a user&#39;s authentication code; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an EVSE control module. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0023]    A system is disclosed for charging an electric vehicle (EV) in a manner that enables local authorization of EV charging without the need to provide the EVSE with installed wired or cellular wireless communications for distant authorization of EV charging from an EVSE home office. A user&#39;s authentication code may be provided to the EVSE directly from the user&#39;s mobile device, the EVSE may compare the user&#39;s authentication code to a whitelist previously loaded into the EVSE by a local administrator mobile device, and the EV charging transaction may be enabled in response to an affirmative comparison of the EVSE user&#39;s authentication code to the authorization codes stored in the EVSE&#39;s whitelist. Upon completion of the EV charging transaction or at a later date, the user&#39;s mobile phone may again be used to upload the transaction to the EVSE home office for processing. 
         [0024]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of an EVSE  200  that enables remote authentication and subsequent data transmission of an EV charging transaction without the benefit of wired or cellular connections between the EVSE and an EVSE home office, and with a cord set that is detachable from an EVSE pedestal and so made portable for users. A wireless interface module  202  is in communication with an EVSE control module  206  seated in an EVSE control box  208  through pilot line segments ( 210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d ) (alternatively referred to as a “pilot line”). The EVSE control box  208  is itself detachable by a user from a wall outlet  212  that is electrically connected to a utility line  214 . As used herein, a “wireless interface module” refers to a wireless interface module adapted for exchanging information over short distances to a mobile device, such as through using short-wavelength ultra-high frequency (UHF) radio waves in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio bands (i.e., Bluetooth) or super high frequency (SHF) ISM radio bands (i.e., Wi-Fi) as designated by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and specifically excludes cellular radio tower technologies intended for voice and data traffic and other wide-area network (WAN) technologies. Such short-range technologies may generally form a personal area network (PAN) or a local area network (LAN) when used in combination with one or more mobile devices and/or EVSEs. In one embodiment, the wireless interface module  202  is a Bluetooth (BT) interface module seated in a wireless interface module control box  216 . Pilot line segment  210   c  is disposed in a power cable  218 , with the power cable  218  fixedly coupled to the EVSE control box  208  on a first end  220 , and to a connector  222 , such as a J1772 compliant connector, on its other end  224 . The mobile device  204  may be running an EVSE mobile application  225 , the mobile device  202  and EVSE mobile application collectively referred to as a “mobile device.” The mobile device may be in periodic communication with an EVSE home office  227  through either a cellular communication path  152  that includes the cell tower  167 , or through another means such as the EVSE user&#39;s or an EVSE owner&#39;s local area network (LAN). The mobile device may also be in periodic communication with the wireless interface module  202  through a short-range wireless connection  229  formed by the BT interface module. 
         [0025]    As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the connector  222  is detachably seated in and mated to a receptor  226  of the wireless interface module control box  216  so that a pilot line terminal (not shown) on the connector  222  and a complementary pilot line terminal (not shown) on the receptor  226  are detachably and electrically coupled together to electrically connect the pilot line segments ( 210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d ) to establish a complete pilot line signal path between the wireless interface module  202  and the EVSE control module  206 . A power relay (alternatively referred to as a power switch)  228  in the EVSE control box  208  may be electrically connected to the connector  222  through the power cable  218  on an EV side of the power switch  228 , with the other side of the power switch  228  detachably and electrically coupled to the wall outlet  212  through a plug  230 , such as a NEMA 515, 520, 615 or 620 plug. 
         [0026]    For purposes of clarity, the EVSE  200  may be defined as including two primary components, namely a cord set  232  and an EVSE pedestal  236 . The cord set  232  may include the connector  222 ; the power cable  218  having the pilot line segments ( 210   b ,  210   c ); and the EVSE control box  208  that contains the EVSE control module  206 , the power switch/relay  228  and a pilot line segment  210   d . The EVSE control box  208  may also have a plug  230  for plugging the cord set  232  into the wall outlet  212  that provides the utility power. In one embodiment, the EVSE pedestal  236  may include the wireless interface module control box  216  encompassing the wireless interface module  202 , a segment of the pilot line  210   a , and the receptor  226  for receiving the connector  222  of the cord set  232 . As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cord set  232  may be portable and so can be removed from the pedestal  236  to be used at any other compatible outlet. Also, the cord set  232  may be manufactured en masse for use as either separate portable devices and/or attached to a pedestal  236  and used in the EVSE  200 , allowing the manufacturing cost of the cord set  232  to be reduced. Also, with the cord set  232  and the pedestal  236  being separate (as viewed by the user), the pedestal  236  may be installed prior to the delivery and connection of the cord set  232 . An example of a cord set such as that set forth as cord set  232  is the TurboCord EVSE which is commercially available from AeroVironment, Inc. of Monrovia, Calif. USA (www.avinc.com). A cord set is described in International Application Number: PCT/US13/56871, PCT Publication No. WO 2014036013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and in International Application Number: PCT/US2014/029624, PCT Publication No. WO 2014144990, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, and in US Patent Application Publication No. 20140035527, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0027]      FIG. 3  illustrates another embodiment of an EVSE  300  that enables remote authentication of an EV charging transaction without the benefit of wired or wireless connections made by the EVSE to an EVSE home office, and with a cord set that is not intended for portable use by a user. Communication between a mobile device (not shown) and the EVSE control module  206  is enabled when the connector  222  of the EVSE power cable  218  is mated to the complementary receptor  226  of an EVSE cover  302 . More particularly, when the connector  222  of the power cable  218  is electrically coupled to the receptor  226  of the EVSE cover  302 , a pilot line (segments  210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d ) enables electrical communication between a wireless interface module  304 , such as a Wi-Fi (wireless local area network (WLAN)) interface module disposed in the EVSE cover  302  and the EVSE control module  206  seated in the EVSE control box  208  that is itself disposed in the EVSE cover  302 . The power relay  228  disposed in the EVSE control box  208  may be electrically connected between the connector  222  and the wall outlet  212  through the plug  230 . Unlike the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cord set consisting of the power cable  218 , power cable connector  222  and the EVSE control box  208  (enclosing the EVSE control module  206  and the power relay  228 ) are not available to a standard user to detach from the wall outlet  212 , as a portion  306  of the power cable  218  and the EVSE control box  208  extend into an interior  308  of the EVSE cover  302  that is normally locked or otherwise fixed to a pedestal  310 , thus inhibiting access to the interior  308  of the EVSE cover  302 . 
         [0028]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a method of administering and using an EVSE with mobile devices. Subsequent to purchase or installation of the EVSE and an associated pedestal (if required) at a permanent use location, or periodically after installation, the EVSE may receive a whitelist from an administrator&#39;s mobile device (block  300 ), with the whitelist including user authentication codes representing users that are authorized to charge from the EVSE, such as the EVSE owner&#39;s employees. Generation or transmittal of the whitelist may be made by an EVSE mobile application running on or through the administrator&#39;s mobile device, such as a smartphone. Such a transmission may be received by a wireless interface module in the EVSE, such as a Bluetooth interface module apart from an EVSE control module, or by an EVSE control module having short-range wireless capability in the EVSE. After such setup and during normal use, the EVSE may broadcast an invitation for mobile devices to connect. A user that wants to initiate an EV charging transaction (i.e., desires to charge their EV) may push or otherwise send an authentication code to be received in the EVSE&#39;s wireless interface module or wirelessly in an EVSE control module adapted to receive such communications directly (block  402 ). The user&#39;s authentication code is compared to the authorization codes previously uploaded and existing in the whitelist in the EVSE (block  404 ). If the user&#39;s authentication code is not on the whitelist (block  406 ), the EVSE may prompt the user to again enter the authentication code or may send an authorization failed message. Or, if the user&#39;s authentication code is found on the whitelist (block  406 ), an EV charging transaction may be enabled (block  408 ) in response to the comparison. The user may disconnect the connector from the receptor and plug it into the EV&#39;s charge port to complete connection of the power cable between the EVSE and the EV (block  410 ). The EVSE may provide power to the EV such as may be controlled through a pilot channel established between the EV and EVSE (block  412 ). In one embodiment, an EV charging authorization results in up to a 10-hour charge authorization for the user. 
         [0029]    At the conclusion of charging, the user may disconnect the EVSE&#39;s power cable from the EV and return the associated connector to the receptor on the EVSE (block  414 ). Preferably, the EVSE may again receive the user&#39;s authentication code (block  416 ) to re-establish communication to send a current indication and current charge time to the user&#39;s mobile device (block  418 ) that is an indication of the total charge delivered by the EVSE to the user&#39;s EV (alternatively referred to as a charge amount indication). In an alternative embodiment, only a current indication is provided to the user&#39;s mobile device. In further embodiments, the charge amount indication is a total power consumed indication. With the current indication received, the mobile device may then send the current indication (or total power consumed indication) to an EVSE home office or to a payment system so that the user may be charged or otherwise debited for the EV charge transaction (block  420 ). In one embodiment, the communication between the mobile device and the EVSE is reestablished (block  416 ) immediately upon conclusion of EV charging so the EVSE home office or payment system may receive the current indication through the user&#39;s mobile device immediately upon conclusion of the EV charging transaction. In another embodiment, communication between the mobile device and the EVSE is reestablished at a subsequent time, such as at initiation of a subsequent EV charging session or transaction, and so the current indication is not immediately provided by the EVSE to the user&#39;s mobile device. In another embodiment, the user&#39;s mobile device does not immediately provide the received charging indication to the EVSE home office or payment system, but rather stores the data for later transmission, such if the mobile device is not immediately within range of cellular service. 
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart describing one embodiment of a method of using a mobile device with EVSEs. A mobile device may receive and process an EVSE invitation to connect from a wireless interface module or EVSE control module of the EVSE, and may subsequently connect to the EVSE (block  500 ) through a handshaking process. The mobile device may request an EV charge rate from a service provider (block  502 ). The charge rate may be received in the mobile device (block  504 ) concurrently with the request if connected to cellular network, or be referenced internally if such was provided during a previous download, and the rate approved or otherwise selected by the user. The user may communicate an authentication code to the EVSE (block  506 ) through or as stored within their mobile device. In one embodiment, the mobile device is also provided with approval for an EV charging transaction by the EVSE Home Office or Payment System as a further authentication/permissions step prior to EV charging. In such an embodiment, the EV charging transaction approval may be provided to the mobile device prior to communicating the authentication code to the EVSE as a two-step authentication process. 
         [0031]    The authentication code maybe compared to the whitelist in the EVSE (block  508 ). If the authentication code is on the whitelist (block  510 ), an EV charging transaction may be enabled (i.e., an authorized EV charging session) in response to the comparison (block  512 ). Otherwise (block  510 ) the EV charging transaction fails and the mobile device may present the user with further opportunities to provide another authentication code. The user may connect the EVSE power cable to the EV (block  514 ) and the EVSE may provide power to the EV (block  516 ). Upon conclusion of the charging session, the user may return the connector on the power cable to the receptor on the EVSE (block  518 ). The mobile device may communicate the authentication code to the EVSE (block  520 ) either concurrently with the end of the EV charging transaction or at a later time, such as at the beginning of a subsequent EV charging transaction, and a current indication may be received in the users mobile device (block  522 ). The mobile device may send the current indication on to the EVSE home office or to another payment system through its connected cellular network (block  524 ) or through other means such as a local wide area network (WAN), or at a later time if such a cellular or long-range network isn&#39;t currently available to the mobile device. 
         [0032]    As may be appreciated from the description, above, the EVSE system  200  may operate without having any connection back to the home office  227  at the time an EV charging transaction is initiated. In such embodiments, the application  225  is provided with an authorization from the EVSE owner or from the home office  227  at a time prior (e.g. days, weeks, months prior) to the initiation of the charge session, and then with the mobile device  204  in short-range communication with the EVSE control module  206  (such as through a Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connection, the EVSE mobile application  225  may provide the charging session authorization directly. In this manner, charging can occur even if a cellular connection cannot be made by the mobile device  204  (e.g., the EVSE  200  is in a location without cellular service—a dead spot). In such situations, the EVSE mobile application  252  will also function to record information about the changing session to later relay to the EVSE home office  227  or to an acquiring bank that processes credit or debit card payments on behalf of the EVSE owner or the EVSE home office, when a connection can be reestablished. Such stored and relayed information may include: duration of the charging session, time of charging, power provided to the EV, rate for charging at the EVSE  200 , and the like. At periodic times the EVSE mobile application  225  will seek to contact the EVSE home office  227  to update the user&#39;s charging authorization and/or to transfer stored information from prior charging sessions. 
         [0033]    In embodiments, the present invention has the EVSE control module  206  in communication with the wireless interface module  202  via the pilot line ( 210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d ), such that information such as charging authorization, initiation of charging, terminating charging, duration of session, power supplied, charging rates, and the like can be transferred to and from the wireless and EVSE control modules ( 202 ,  206 ) while the connector  222  is electrically coupled to the receptor  226 . In some embodiments the wireless and EVSE control modules ( 202 ,  206 ) are not separate modules, but have both functions implemented in the same module and are directly connected to the EVSE&#39;s power switch/relay  228 . In other embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the wireless and EVSE control modules ( 202 ,  206 ) are separate and communicate via the pilot line ( 210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d ). In such embodiments, when the EVSE  200  is not connected to the EV, the power cord connector  222  can be plugged into a receptor  226  that includes a wired connection to the wireless interface module  202 , such that the pilot line ( 210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d ) provides communication between the wireless interface module  202  and the EVSE control module  206  so the EVSE box  208  can be sealed without the need for an external connection port for the transfer of data, improving its weatherproofing and reducing its cost of manufacture. 
         [0034]    In other embodiments, the EVSE control system, such as the wireless and EVSE control modules ( 202 ,  206 ), do not need to have a real time clock in order to generate a current indication, as such a clock can be simulated by using the communication with the user&#39;s smart phone or may be generated using a timer function without real-time clock data. In an alternative embodiment, generation of data logs enable recalculation of the EVSE&#39;s clock during communication with the smart phone. The lack of a real time clock can further reduce the cost to manufacture the EVSE, and are not necessary to produce EV transaction data such as total time charged. 
         [0035]    In one example operation of the EVSE system  200 , a user parks their EV near the available EVSE  200 , and then opens (e.g. runs), the EVSE mobile application  225  on their cellular phone  204 . The EVSE mobile application  225  and cellular phone look for EVSEs in the range of the local/short range radio (i.e., within the Bluetooth or WiFi reception capability of the cellular phone) and presents these to the user to choose from. Each EVSE has a physical identifier that corresponds to an identifier transmitted via wireless interface module  202  for visual comparison by the user, such as a serial number on a front face of the EVSE or an EVSE name or logo. In so doing, the cellular phone  204  may use the signal strength of the wireless interface module  202  to aid in finding the EVSE that the user wants to use, namely the closer the EVSE is to the phone  204 , the greater the radio signal strength indicated in the EVSE mobile application  225  user interface. 
         [0036]    In other embodiments, the application  225  may have received prior authorization for the use of the EVSE  200  or may contact the home office  227  via the cellular connection  152  to obtain authorization. Then, the EVSE mobile application  225  communicates, via the local wireless connection  229 , to the wireless control model  202  to provide the charge authorization. The wireless control system  202  in turn communicates via the pilot line ( 210   a ,  210   b ,  210   c ,  210   d ) to the EVSE control module  206  to provide the charge authorization. Then upon connection of the connector  210  to an EV (and a pilot signal is properly communicated between the EV and the EVSE  200 ), the EVSE control module  206  instructs the power relay  228  to provide electric power from the utility line  214  to the EVSE power cable  218  and the connector  222 . The EVSE control module  206  may also direct the switch to terminate supplying power when the charging transaction is over, such as when the authorized duration of the charge reaches the value provide by the home office  227  or EVSE owner via the EVSE mobile application  225  to the wireless interface module  202 . 
         [0037]    In addition to providing charging authorization and charging related data between the home office  227  and the EVSE  200 , via the EVSE mobile application  225  on the phone  204 , additional information can be sent that is not seen by the user. This additional information may include software updates, settings, diagnostics, information to show on a display on the EVSE  200 , such as pricing, advertising, user feedback, etc. This information can be sent not just to the EVSE  200  that the user is using or intends to use, but also to all EVSEs within range of the wireless connection from the phone  204 . 
         [0038]    In this embodiment, to obtain charging authorization the EVSE system  200  utilizes the user&#39;s cellular phone  204  to communicate back to the EVSE home or back office  227 , via a wireless connection through a cellular system  152  (in other embodiments the connection between the phone  204  and the EVSE home office  227  can be made by any of a variety of known means, including via Wi-Fi or a wired connection such as a phone land line). In embodiments the phone  204  (alternatively referred to as a smartphone) is operable to hold the user&#39;s financial information (e.g. credit card number) and funds for charging sessions, which can be based on tokens, thus eliminating the need to pass financial and credit card information to the charger and/or to the home or back office. 
         [0039]    The cellular phone  250  can achieve this authorization by employing an EVSE mobile application  225  that is loaded and operating on the phone  204 . The phone  204  in turn communicates with the wireless interface module  202  via a wireless connection  229  through the wireless controller module  202  to provide the EVSE control module  206  with authorization for the charging session (a “EV charging transaction”). Since the user is expected to be located relatively close to the EVSE system  200 , the wireless connection  229  can be any of known local, or short range, wireless communication means including Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. The use of such a short range communication  229  allows the cost to manufacture the EVSE system  200  to be reduced compared to using a cellular connection  165  (see  FIG. 1 ). The installation cost of the EVSE  200  may be reduced as a wired or land-line cabling  170  is likewise not required. Further, the continuing operation costs of the EVSE system  200  is reduced as neither a cellular service or wired (landline) subscription is required to contact the home office  227  to obtain charging authorization. 
         [0040]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment of an EVSE system with an expanded view of a wireless interface module connected to the cord set and EVSE control box. The wireless interface module  600  may be connected to a wall outlet  602  for power, and may be in short-range wireless communication with a user&#39;s smartphone  604 . The user&#39;s smartphone  604  may be in periodic communication  606  with a home or back office via the Internet  608 . In such an embodiment, the wireless interface module  600  includes a Bluetooth module  610  in electrical communication with a pilot terminal  612  of a connector  614 , preferably a J1772 compliant connector, of a power cable  616 . As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the wireless interface module  600  is in electrical communication with an EVSE control box  208  that contains an EVSE control module (not shown). 
         [0041]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of the invention system diagram for an EVSE control system, with a cord set  232  and an EVSE control module  700  connected to the wall outlet  602  and in wireless communication with the user&#39;s smartphone  604 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 8  illustrates one implementation of the method illustrated in  FIG. 4  for administering and using an EVSE with mobile devices. In this implementation, the whitelist is stored in the wireless interface module residing in the EVSE pedestal, and the whitelist comparison and subsequent EV charging transaction authorization are also implemented in the wireless interface module for subsequent communication to the EVSE control module rather than being implemented in the EVSE control module itself. More particularly, subsequent to purchase or installation of the EVSE pedestal at a permanent use location, or periodically after installation, the wireless interface module in the pedestal may receive and store a whitelist from an administrator&#39;s mobile device (block  800 ), with the whitelist including user authentication codes representing users that are authorized to charge from the EVSE, such as the EVSE owner&#39;s employees. After such setup and during normal use, the wireless interface module may broadcast an invitation for mobile devices to connect. In such an embodiment, the invitation to connect may be an invitation to connect the user&#39;s cord set to the EVSE pedestal. Or, the cord set may be previously attached to the pedestal, such as would be the case if the cord set was not portable. A user that wants to initiate an EV charging transaction (i.e., desires to charge their EV) may send an authentication code using, for example, their EVSE mobile application running in their wireless device, to be received in the EVSE&#39;s wireless interface module (block  802 ) in the EVSE pedestal. The user&#39;s authentication code may be compared to the authorization codes previously uploaded and existing in the whitelist in the wireless interface module (block  804 ). If the user&#39;s authentication code is not on the whitelist (block  806 ), the wireless interface module may prompt the user (through the EVSE mobile application) to again enter the authentication code or may send an authorization failed message to the user. Or, if the authentication code is found on the whitelist (block  806 ), the wireless interface module may send an authorization to start an EV charge transaction sign (block  808 ) to the EVSE control module in response to the comparison. The user may then remove the connector from the receptor and electrically couple the connector to their EV so the power cable is connected between the EV and the EVSE (block  810 ), and the EVSE may provide power to the EV by standard means such as may be controlled through a pilot channel established between the EV and EVSE (block  812 ). At the conclusion of charging, the user may disconnect the connector on the EVSE&#39;s power cable from the EV and return the connector to the receptor of the EVSE (block  814 ). Preferably, the wireless interface module may again receive the user&#39;s authentication code (block  816 ) to re-establish communication between the mobile device and the wireless interface module of the EVSE for the wireless interface module to send a current indication to the user&#39;s mobile device (block  818 ) that is an indication of the total charge delivered by the EVSE to the user&#39;s EV. With the current indication received, the mobile device may then send the current indication to an EVSE home office or to a payment system so that the user may be charged or otherwise debited for the EV charge transaction (block  820 ). In one embodiment, the communication between the mobile device and the wireless interface module is reestablished (block  816 ) immediately upon conclusion of EV charging so the EVSE home office or payment system may receive the current indication through the user&#39;s mobile device immediately upon conclusion of the EV charging transaction. However, in another embodiment, communication between the mobile device and the wireless interface module of the EVSE is reestablished at a subsequent time, such as at initiation of a subsequent EV charging session or transaction, and so the current indication is not immediately provided by the EVSE to the user&#39;s mobile device. In other embodiment, the user&#39;s mobile device does not immediately provide the received charging indication to the EVSE home office or payment system, but rather stores the data for later transmission, such if the mobile device is not immediately within range of cellular service. 
         [0043]      FIG. 9  illustrates one embodiment of the EVSE control module and included power relays that use AC utility power to charge the EV. The system is operable to plug into an AC source that may be 120 VAC-60 Hz, 250 VAC-60 Hz (split phase) or 230 VAC 50 Hz (80 VAC to 264 VAC) via a standard NEMA or CEE7/7 plug. The AC power is routed to a GFI Monitor  902  that is a GFI/RCD (Ground Fault Interrupter/Residual Current Device current sensor) through power relays  904  for presentation to an EV power cable  906 . The power relays  904  are normally open (N. O.) when de-energized, so logic power must be present in order to initiate and maintain the relay-closed condition, such as in response to a communication from a wireless control module or in response a comparison of an authentication code to a whitelist in the EVSE control module memory. The mechanical relays open/close operation is driven by the relay control driver and fault latch  907 . The GFI monitor  902  relay control driver and fault latch controller  907  collectively provide a robust hardware safety system. A controller  908  receives line voltage signals from an AC voltage monitor  910  through an analog multiplexor  912 , with the AC voltage monitor  910  monitoring the voltage on Line  1  and Line  2  and across the relays  904  for communication to the controller  908 . The controller  908  includes a microprocessor and control monitoring electronics, with logic power being supplied by a POWER SUPPLY  909  that may be a flyback transformer based power supply to allow for use of the EVSE system  900  in different power environments. The prime function of the controller  908  is to use the inputs from the vehicle connector and utility to allow or disallow the relays to open and close, and in one embodiment, to compare a user&#39;s authentication code to a whitelist stored in internal memory to enable an EV charging transaction. In another embodiment, the controller  908  may receive an EV charging transaction in response to a communication from a wireless interface module, with the wireless interface module performing the comparison between a user&#39;s authentication code and a whitelist stored the internal memory of the wireless interface module. The controller  908  obtains its operating power from the utility at the input of the EVSE system  900 . 
         [0044]    A connector  914  such as an SAE-J1772 or IEC-62196 Type II, Mode 2 compliant connector is in communication with the EV power cable  906  to feed the AC power to an EV (not shown) that may be coupled to the charge coupler. The EV (now shown) may contain an on-board charger that then converts the AC power to DC power to charge the vehicle batteries. For example, in preparation to operate the EVSE system  900 , the connector  914  is attached by the user to the vehicle receptacle for charging sessions. The vehicle is the primary system component per SAE-J1772/IEC62196 that communicates charging status and completion to the user, however the controller  908  may be designed to provide a primary pilot signal through the pilot driver and monitor  915 , with the pilot signal established between the EVSE and the vehicle per SAE-J1772 prior to closing the relays  904 . The pilot signal is passed through the power cable  906  to the vehicle, and may have a peak amplitude of +/−12 V and a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation). Per SAE-J1772, the duty cycle of the pilot PWM signal is used by the EVSE system  900  to communicate the maximum power amperage limit that the EVSE system  900  may supply to the vehicle. The pilot signal voltage amplitude and modulation characteristics are used to indicate a proper connection, charging requirements and default status between the vehicle and the EVSE system  900 .