Abstract:
An EVCS equipped with an accelerometer to detect seismic events. Upon sensing a catastrophic environmental event, the EVCS is automatically disconnected from the main utility power source. A controller powered by a backup or alternate power source inside the EVCS monitors the seismic activity, and upon sensing the seismic event is over, the EVCS automatically performs a startup check. If utility power is present and the self-check passes, the EVCS resets and provides power from the main utility to the charging connector. If the EVCS is operable but utility power is unavailable, the EVCS switches to a generator or a UPS. The EVCS can provide multiple power outlets, including USB outlets, and emergency lighting. The EVCS can also be retrofitted or constructed with a communications interface for communicating status and operational information following a seismic event.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS), and more particularly, for example, to an EVCS retrofitted or equipped with an auto-resettable seismic sensor. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As demand for electric vehicles increases, so, too does the demand for electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) that are need to recharge the batteries that power the power train of the electric vehicle. EVCS stations will be located in “seismic zones” throughout the world, but once they are installed, existing EVCS stations will lack any capability to react safely to seismic events, such as earthquakes. While some seismic events can be totally catastrophic, others may still permit some, if not all, operational functions to be carried out by the EVCS, but restoring these operational functions needs to be done in a careful and reliable manner. What is needed is an automatically resettable EVCS equipped with or retrofitted with a seismic sensor. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     A retrofit kit or assembly that includes seismic detection hardware and functionality is described. The kit or assembly can be installed quickly into an existing EVCS onsite without having to remove any part of the EVCS from its installed location. Alternately, the seismic detection hardware and functionality can be incorporated into an EVCS during the manufacture or assembly of the EVCS. 
     The basic components of the kit or assembly include an accelerometer, a programmable logic controller, and a controller. If the existing EVCS lacks a switch, the kit or assembly further includes an automatic transfer switch (ATS) and optionally a remotely resettable circuit breaker for disconnecting the EVCS from a main utility power source. The kit also includes an alternate power source, such as a generator or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which is installed in or next to the EVCS onsite. The kit or assembly can be provided on a substrate and an enclosure, which can house the alternate power source, the circuit breaker, and the switch. The accelerometer, controller, and PLC can be provided on the substrate. The substrate is mounted inside the EVCS, such as on an interior panel or door of the EVCS, and a signal conductor is connected between the controller and the switch and the circuit breaker. If the existing EVCS lacks communications capability to communicate to an external system, the kit or assembly can include a communications interface and an antenna for sending wireless status and operational information following detection of a seismic event. 
     The accelerometer detects a seismic event by outputting a voltage indicative of a characteristic (e.g., magnitude) of the seismic event. The controller monitors this voltage output until a threshold is exceeded, optionally for a predetermined period of time. Once this threshold has been exceeded, the PLC instructs the circuit breaker to open, thereby disconnecting the electrical charging connector of the EVCS from the main power source. The controller continues to monitor the output voltage of the accelerometer until the controller determines that the seismic event has ended, such as when the output voltage is below the threshold for a period of time. 
     Following the seismic event, the key components of the EVCS, such as the accelerometer, the controller, the PLC, and optionally the communications components, are powered by a DC source, such as a battery, or by an alternate power source, such as the UPS. In the latter case, the ATS is instructed to switch power from the main power source to the UPS so that energy can flow to these key components while the controller performs a system check of the EVCS. If the system check fails, such that the controller determines that one or more components of the EVCS are in a failure mode or non-operational, the PLC maintains the circuit breaker in an open status such that no energy can flow to the electrical charging connector of the EVCS, and if the EVCS is equipped with an antenna and communications capability, the controller transmits a signal to an external system information about the operational status of the EVCS, for example, a service signal indicating that the EVCS requires service. 
     However, if the system check passes, the controller determines whether energy can be supplied from the main utility power source. If so, all energy is restored normally. Otherwise, the PLC instructs the switch to switch to an alternate power source, such as an emergency generator if available, or a UPS, and depending on the type of alternate power source available, different loads are energized. For example, if a generator is available, the ATS switches to connect the generator to the EVCS, and because the generator has a high power output, vehicle charging is allowed so energy is permitted to flow from the generator to the electrical charging connector of the EVCS. Electric vehicles can thus be charged even though no main utility power is available. On the other hand, if only a UPS is available as an alternate power source, vehicle charging is preferably disallowed. In both cases, other limited loads can be energized, such as emergency lights, a USB port, an electrical outlet, and communications if available. The USB port and electrical outlet allow users to charge their mobile devices, for example, following a seismic event. If the EVCS is equipped with a video display, the video display can also be put into a mode where it operates as an emergency light, such as by displaying a static white image on the video display or a flashing pattern. The brightness level of the video display can be increased to its maximum setting in this emergency mode. 
     The foregoing and additional aspects and embodiments of the present invention will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments and/or aspects, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided next. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings. 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective illustration of an example electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) according to an aspect of the present disclosure with an alternate power source separately housed adjacent to the EVCS; 
         FIG. 2  is a functional block diagram of the EVCS and some of the components that are pre-installed or retrofitted into an existing EVCS, including an accelerometer according to an aspect of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is an example flow chart if a method or algorithm carried out by a controller that detects seismic activity and determines whether power from one of multiple power sources can be restored to the EVCS following a seismic event; 
         FIG. 4  is a an example of a retrofit kit that includes an accelerometer and which is installed into an existing basic EVCS that lacks a remotely resettable circuit breaker, an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to switch among multiple power sources, and a communications interface; 
         FIG. 5  is an example of a retrofit kit that includes an accelerometer and which is installed into an existing EVCS that has communications capability but still lacks a remotely resettable circuit breaker and an ATS to switch among multiple power sources; and 
         FIG. 6  is an example of a retrofit kit that includes an accelerometer and which is installed into an existing EVCS without communications capability. 
     
    
    
     While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Turning now to the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates an example electric vehicle charging station (EVCS)  100  that includes a pedestal  102  connected to a main electrical power source  206  such as an electric utility grid. Electric vehicles have drivelines or power trains that are primarily powered by electric motors that draw from a rechargeable energy storage device such as a battery in the electric vehicle, as well as optionally exchanging information. The electric vehicle typically has an electrical receptacle for receiving an electrical connector (also referred to as an electrical charging connector) coupled to an electrical power supply for charging the batteries in the electric vehicle. As used herein, the term “electric vehicle” includes both vehicles that use only electrical power and so-called hybrid vehicles in which the power train uses both an electrical power source and an internal combustion engine. It should be noted that the EVCS can take any form factor, not just the exemplary form factor shown in the drawings herein. These examples are shown for ease of illustration. An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a retrofit kit that can be readily added to a conventional or existing EVCS without having to redesign or reconfigure the EVCS. The retrofit kit can be a module, such as in the form of a printed circuit board or other substrate that can be optionally housed within an enclosure, as will be described in more detail below. Thus, it should be emphasized that aspects of the present disclosure are intended to be utilized with any conventional or existing EVCS. Alternately, these aspects can be incorporated into an EVCS as part of the assembly of the EVCS during the manufacturing process and before the EVCS is installed at a site. 
     The basic components of the EVCS are as follows, with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In general, reference numbers begin with the number of the figure, and like reference numbers refer to like elements throughout the various illustrations, even when they might appear in different implementations or embodiments. The use of the same reference number means that the element being referenced is like the element already discussed earlier. For example, the reference number for the alternate power source is  120 , but this can refer to, for example, in different implementations, a uninterruptible power supply (UPS) or a generator. The generator can sometimes be referred to as an emergency backup power source, but it is a form of an alternate power source. 
     The EVCS  100  shown in  FIG. 1  and referred to throughout the illustrations generally has a pedestal  102 , which includes a docking station  103  that is configured to receive an electrical connector assembly  104 . A “pedestal” as used herein is intended to be inclusive of the main body or housing of any EVCS unit, whether wall-mounted or earth-mounted. The electrical connector assembly  104  connects the main power source  206  (shown in  FIG. 2 ) to the rechargeable battery (not shown) in the electric vehicle (not shown) whose driveline is powered at least partially by the rechargeable battery. “At least partially” as used in this context means that the driveline can also be powered by an internal combustion engine, such as hybrid vehicles. 
     The EVCS  100  also includes a panel  108 , which can be in the form of a hinged door that is releasable and locked from inside the EVCS  100 . This panel  108  can be removable and swapped out for another panel to allow an existing EVCS  100  to be retrofitted with a module or assembly according to the present disclosure. The panel  108  also includes a video display  110 , such as a liquid crystal display, that can be used to provide emergency lighting as described in more detail below. 
     The EVCS  100  includes an accelerometer  202  (see  FIG. 2 ) that is configured to sense seismic activity (or a seismic event) and output an output signal indicative of the seismic activity. A suitable, albeit merely exemplary, accelerometer is the SIFLEX® accelerometer available from Acal Technology. The output signal is typically in the form of a scaled voltage that is ranged to provide an indication of the severity of the detected seismic activity. Seismic activity includes any waves of energy that travel through the Earth as a result of an earthquake, explosion (whether natural or human-caused), volcano, tornado, hurricane, tropical storm, tsunami, or any other natural or human-caused activity (e.g., pile-driving, nuclear explosion) that causes non-quiescent waves of energy to travel through the Earth. Seismic activity can be benign or catastrophic depending on the magnitude and/or duration of the seismic activity. 
     The EVCS  100  further includes a switch  204 , such as an automatic transfer switch, which is configured to switch between the main power source  206  (e.g., an electric utility grid) and an alternate power source  120  that is isolated from the main power source  206 . The state of the switch  204  can be controlled by a controller  220 , which is also electrically coupled to the accelerometer  202  to receive its output signal. The EVCS  100  further includes a circuit breaker  210  that is connected between the main power source  206  or the alternate power source  120  (depending on the state of the switch  204 ) and the electrical connector assembly  104 . The circuit breaker  210  protects the rechargeable battery in the electric vehicle by tripping if an electrical fault, such as a short circuit, a ground fault, or an arc fault, for example, is detected by the circuit breaker  210 . The alternate power source  120 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , can be housed in a separate weatherproof enclosure from the EVCS  100  and positioned near the EVCS  100  and connected thereto. An example of a suitable alternate power source  120  is the APC 2200 VA Smart-UPS XL 120V available from Schneider Electric USA, Inc., such as model number SUA2200XL. The accelerometer  202  and the controller  220  are shown in  FIG. 2  as being outside the EVCS  100  because they can be supplied on a retrofit kit that is installed into an existing EVCS  100 . Thus, once installed, the accelerometer  202  and the controller  220  become housed within the EVCS  100 . The alternate power source  120  can be a separate unit from the EVCS  100 , or it can be alternately incorporated into the EVCS  100 . However, when an existing EVCS  100  without an accelerometer is being upgraded to include the retrofit assembly of the present disclosure, the alternate power source  120  can readily be connected to an existing EVCS  100  and installed next to it. Or, as mentioned above, the alternate power source  120  can be incorporated into the EVCS  100  instead of being provided as a separate unit from the EVCS  100 . 
     The controller  220  operates under the control of programmed firmware or software instructions, which are machine-readable and can be stored on one or more non-transitory medium or media. The controller  220  determines, based on the output signal from the accelerometer  202 , whether a seismic criterion is satisfied. The controller  220  can take other signals or inputs (e.g., from a pressure sensor, or a water sensor) into consideration, but in this example, it uses at least the output signal from the accelerometer  202 . In response to the controller  220  determining that the seismic criterion is satisfied, the controller  220  causes the circuit breaker  210  to disconnect the electrical connector assembly  104  from the main power source  206 . Thus, the controller  220  can be electrically coupled to the circuit breaker  210 , which can receive a trip instruction from the controller  220  and trip when the trip instruction instructs the circuit breaker  210  to trip. 
     Within the pedestal  102 , the main power source  206  is connected to one end of a power cable  130  via conventional safety devices such as a circuit breaker  210  or a fuse. The other end of the power cable  130  is connected to a first end of an electrical connector assembly  104  (see  FIG. 1 ) within a handle  140  of the assembly  104 , to facilitate coupling the connector assembly  104  to a power source such as the main power source  206  or an alternate power source  120 . The second end of the connector  130  at the end of the handle  140  includes multiple first electrical terminals that are adapted to engage mating second electrical terminals in the electric vehicle inlet, i.e., the electrical receptacle that is standard equipment in electric vehicles. The current standard for electrical connectors for charging electric vehicles in the United States for level 1 and 2 is the SAE J1772 standard and for level 3 is the G105-1993 CHAdeMO protocol, for both the male and female electrical terminals used to connect the battery in an electric vehicle to an EVCS to re-charge the vehicle battery. The J1772 connectors include three detachable conductors for connecting and disconnecting the positive, negative and neutral lines of the electrical power source to the positive and negative terminals of the vehicle battery, and a vehicle ground terminal. The battery then receives and stores electrical power for future use by the vehicle. The G105-1993 CHAdeMO protocol includes ten detachable conductors. 
     When the charging station  100  is not in use, the connector assembly  104  is inserted into the docking station  103  on the pedestal  102 . In an aspect, the docking station  103  typically does not include any electrical connectors, but provides physical support and protection for the connector assembly  104  when it is not in use. In another aspect, the docking station  103  can include a self-diagnostics module that checks the integrity of the connector assembly  104 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the EVCS  100  includes a number of other components, such as a circuit breaker  212  that protects loads in a control area of the EVCS  100 . The control area includes the electronic components that control operations of the EVCS, such as a programmable logic controller (PLC)  242  (which, as mentioned above, can be incorporated into the accelerometer  202 ) connected to the main circuit breaker  210 , a communications interface  240 , and the controller  220 , for example. Another circuit breaker  214  protects conventional power inverters (not shown) in the EVCS  100 . The EVCS  100  includes an isolation or insulation monitoring device  222  for detecting insulation faults in an ungrounded system between an energized conductor and earth, a ground fault protector  224 , which can optionally be incorporated into the main circuit breaker  210 . A surge arrestor  226  protects the EVCS  100  from voltage surges, such as might emanate from the main power source  206 . The EVCS  100  includes one or more drives  218  and a DC source  226 , such as a battery. The one or more drives  218  can operate to act as an AC-to-DC inverter and to control the output current to the electric vehicle. An example of the PLC  242  can be the PLC M340 available from Modicon. The PLC  242  can be incorporated on the same substrate as the accelerometer  202  or in the same integrated circuit as the accelerometer  202 . An example of the main circuit breaker  210  is the JDL36200BESALV. 
     During normal startup of the EVCS  100 , the following components can be evaluated first (in no particular order) by the controller  220 : a control power transformer  216 , the drives  218 , the communications interface  240 , the DC source  226 , and the main circuit breaker  210 . 
     Other optional components external to the EVCS  100  can interface with the EVCS. For example, the EVCS  100  can be coupled to emergency lights  252 , or to an electrical outlet  232 . A universal serial bus (USB) interface  230  can also be provided to supply power to USB devices connected to the EVCS  100 . The EVCS  100  includes a USB interface, such as incorporated in the communications interface  240 . The communications interface  240  can be, for example, a CANlink command and control bus. A software application  250  can access status information from the EVCS or control any of the components of the EVCS  100  remotely, such as via the Internet over a wireless link, such as to a cellular network. This software application  250  can reside, for example, on a user&#39;s mobile phone or portable computing device. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a flow chart  300  of an example implementation of the present disclosure. An earthquake or other seismic event occurs ( 302 ), which is detected by the accelerometer  202 , which outputs an output signal indicative of the severity or magnitude of the seismic event. If the output signal exceeds a threshold value indicative of a catastrophic seismic event ( 304 ), the controller  220  sends a signal to the PLC  242 , which instructs the main circuit breaker  210  to trip, thereby disconnecting the EVCS  100  from the main power source  206 . At a minimum, the electrical connector assembly  104  is electrically disconnected from the main power source  206  such that no power can flow to the connector. In addition to severity, the seismic criterion can also include whether the output signal from the accelerometer  202  exceeds the threshold value for a predetermined period of time. For example, a low-magnitude seismic event lasting a fraction of a second may not be sufficient to satisfy the seismic criterion. Alternately, a high-magnitude seismic event lasting a fraction of a second may be sufficient to satisfy the seismic criterion. In other words, the seismic criterion can be satisfied based upon a determination of magnitude (as indicated by the accelerometer  220 ) and duration, and these values can be different for different combinations of severity and duration. A catastrophic seismic event can include a seismic event of such a magnitude that would cause internal damage to the EVCS  100  or compromise the integrity of energized conductors within the EVCS  100  so as to create a permanent and potentially unsafe condition that can result in electrical arcing or shorting of the conductors. By permanent, it is meant that the unsafe condition cannot be ameliorated automatically without human intervention. 
     The controller  220  continues to monitor the output signal from the accelerometer  202  to determine whether the seismic event has ended or at least has diminished in severity or magnitude such that the output signal no longer exceeds the threshold for a predetermined period of time ( 306 ). To supply temporary power to the EVCS  100  during a system check of the primary electrical components of the EVCS  100 , the EVCS  100  can be powered by the alternate power source  120  ( 308 ) or by the DC source  228  inside the EVCS  100  (such as a battery). A purpose of the alternate power source  120  or DC source  228  during this system check phase is to power the minimum set of components necessary to complete the system check. These components include the accelerometer  202  so that it can continue monitoring for seismic activity, the microcontroller  220 , the main circuit breaker  210 , the PLC  242  to control the operation of the main circuit breaker  210 , the communications interface  240  to receive external instructions or transmit status information to an external system, and the switch  204  to control whether the EVCS  100  is powered by the main power source  206  or the alternate power source  102 . 
     A system check verifies the integrity of each one of the different functions and components of the EVCS  100 . For example the controller  220  can request status information from some or all of the components inside the EVCS  100 , and each of those components can transmit back to the controller  220  a signal indicating that all of the functions of that component are operating normally. If the controller  220  does not receive a timely acknowledgement from a component, the controller  220  considers that component to be in a failure mode or non-operational. As stated above, the controller  220  can be powered by the UPS  120  and/or by the DC source  228 , such as a battery, during the system check. 
     Upon successful completion of the system check, the controller  220  determines whether the EVCS  100  can be connected to the main power source  206  ( 310 ) and restores energy to the EVCS  100  either from the main power source  206  or from the alternate power source  102  ( 316 ). For example, following an earthquake, the main power source  206  can become unavailable, so the controller  220  checks whether power can be safely restored to the EVCS  100  from the main power source  206  ( 318 ). If the main power source  318  is available, the controller  220  instructs the switch  204  to switch power to the main power source  318  ( 320 ), thereby restoring power from the main power source  318  to the EVCS  100 , which resumes its normal operation ( 322 ). 
     However, if the main power source  318  is not available, such as due to a power outage from the main utility supplying the energy from the main power source  318 , the controller  220  can instruct the switch  204  to switch to an alternate power source  120 , such as an emergency backup power source ( 324 ), such as a gas- or diesel-powered generator, or a UPS ( 326 ). Depending upon which alternate power source is selected, a different set of loads  328 ,  340  can be powered. For example, if only a UPS is available as the alternate power source  120 , the UPS would not have sufficient energy to support an extended vehicle charge, so the loads  328  that can be powered when the alternate power source  120  is a UPS are one or more of the emergency lights  110 ,  252 , the USB port  230  (e.g., to support charging of portable electronic devices), the electrical outlet  232 , and the communications interface  240 . To prevent the electrical connector assembly  104  from receiving power from the UPS  120  during this emergency mode of operation, the PLC  242  can ensure that the circuit breaker  210  is open, thereby preventing energy flow to the electrical connector assembly  104 , but the circuit breaker  212  can be closed to supply power to the loads  328 . However, if a generator is available as the alternate power source  120 , the generator has more energy-producing capacity compared to a UPS, and can therefore supply power to all of the loads  328  that are powered by the UPS in addition to supplying power to charge an electric vehicle ( 330 ). If the circuit breaker  210  is open, the PLC  242  can also instruct the circuit breaker  210  to close to connect the electrical connector assembly  104  to the generator  120 . While the load sets  328  or  340  are being powered by the alternate power source  120 , the controller  220  continuously or periodically monitors the main power source  206  to see whether it becomes available ( 318 ). Alternately, if both a generator and UPS are available as alternate power sources  120 , both units can supply power to the loads  328 ,  340 . 
     When the alternate power source  120  supplies power to the USB port  230  and/or the electrical outlet  232 , the USB port  230  or electrical outlet  232  can be used following an earthquake, for example, to allow charging of portable communication devices, such as cellular phones. The video display  110  can act as emergency lighting in an emergency mode of operation, such as by displaying a static white image or a flashing pattern on the video display  110 , and the light emanating from the video display  110  can provide illumination for the area in front of the EVCS  100 . The video display  110  can, in conjunction with or instead of, the emergency lights  252 , automatically turn on to display static image or flashing pattern following detection of a seismic event ( 302 ). 
     Following detection of a seismic event ( 304 ), the controller  220  can be further programmed to communicate using the communications interface  240  status information relating to the catastrophic seismic event or to the operational status of the EVCS  100  or both. The status information can include, for example, the state of the switch  204 , the state of any of the circuit breakers  210 ,  212 ,  214 , or whether the main power source  206  is available or whether the EVCS  100  is being powered by the alternate power source  120 . The operational status of the EVCS  100  can include whether the electrical connector assembly  104  is connected to the main power source  206  or to the alternate power source  120 , or which of the components during the system check passed the system check or were deemed to be in a failure mode. 
     Returning to the system check ( 310 ), if the system check fails such that the controller  220  determines that power cannot be restored to the EVCS  100  following the seismic event, circuit breaker  210  remains in an open state to disconnect the electrical connector assembly  104  from the main power source  206  and from the alternate power source  120  ( 312 ). The controller  220  can communicate, using the communications interface  240 , a service signal to an external system, such as a remote monitoring facility, that the EVCS  100  requires service and that the EVCS  100  is in a non-operational state ( 314 ). 
       FIG. 4  is an example of a retrofit kit or assembly for a basic EVCS that lacks communications capability with an external system. The retrofit kit or assembly includes a substrate or panel  400  and an antenna  412 , such as an antenna configured for cellular communications. On the panel  400 , a variety of printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA) can be arranged. The blocks shown in the panel  400  are shown as functional blocks and are not intended to convey their physical size or location on the panel  400 . For example, the panel  400  includes a seismic sensor PCBA  402 , which includes the accelerometer  202  shown in  FIG. 2 , a battery pack  404 , which corresponds to the DC source  228  shown in  FIG. 2 , a communication PCBA  406 , which includes the communications interface  240  shown in  FIG. 2 , a cellular modem  408 , and a main control unit PCBA  410 , which includes the controller  220  shown in  FIG. 2 . Note that although multiple PCBAs are shown in  FIG. 4 , in other implementations, fewer or a single PCBA can be used. The PCBA arrangement shown in  FIG. 2  allows the retrofit kit to be modular, with different functionality offered for different retrofit kits, as will be explained in connection with  FIGS. 5 and 6 .  FIGS. 4-6  illustrate different examples of retrofit assemblies in descending order of functionality, with  FIG. 4  representing a comprehensive set of functionality and  FIG. 6  representing a minimum set of functionality for the retrofit kit or assembly. 
     In  FIG. 4 , the EVCS  100  lacks the switch  204  and the breaker  210  (e.g., because it is pre-configured to receive power from a single power source, namely the main power source  206 ). Such an EVCS will be termed a “basic EV charger” because it offers basic charging functionality. The switch  204  and the breaker  210  are therefore provided remotely from the EVCS  100 . The same reference number will be used to refer to the EVCS in  FIGS. 4-6 , even though the EVCS devices illustrated in these figures have different sets of functionality, they share common components as described above and will not be repeated here. A control signal  414  from the main control unit PCBA  410  is connected to a remote (relative to the EVCS  100 ) circuit breaker  422  and to an automatic transfer switch (ATS)  424 , both of which are housed in an enclosure or housing  420 . The ATS  424  is coupled to the main power source  206  through the remote circuit breaker  422  and to the alternate power source  102 . The output of the ATS  424  is connected to the EVCS  100  shown in  FIG. 4  by conductors  432 . 
     To retrofit an existing EVCS  100  with the panel  400 , the panel  400  is installed onto the panel or door  108  of the existing EVCS  100  onsite and without having to remove the EVCS  100  from its installed location. Of course, if the existing EVCS  100  already has a circuit breaker  210  and a switch  204 , the housing  420  is not needed in such an implementation. However, in the illustrated example, the EVCS  100  shown in  FIG. 4  lacks a remotely controlled circuit breaker and an ATS, so these are provided in the housing  420  and connected to the existing EVCS  100 . A signal conductor  414  that carries a control signal from the main control unit PCBA  410  to the remotely resettable circuit breaker  422  is also connected between the panel  400  and the housing  420  through the EVCS  100 . 
     In  FIG. 5 , the existing EVCS  100  already has a communications interface  240 , so the panel  500  shown in the  FIG. 5  example lacks a communication PCBA, such as the communication PCBA  406  shown in  FIG. 4 . Like reference numbers refer to like elements in  FIG. 5 . In this example, the panel  500  includes the seismic sensor PCBA  402 , the battery pack  404 , and the main control unit PCBA  410 , but lacks the communication PCBA  406 , the cellular modem  408 , and the antenna  412  present in the panel  400  of  FIG. 4 . Like the panel  400  of  FIG. 4 , the panel  500  of  FIG. 5  is installed into the panel or door  108  of the existing EVCS  100 , and the signal conductor  414  is connected between the main control unit PCBA  410  of the panel  500  through the existing EVCS  100  and to the remotely resettable circuit breaker  422  in the housing  420 . 
     In  FIG. 6 , the existing EVCS  100  can be a fast charger type that lacks communications capability and a way of switching among multiple power sources. To retrofit such an existing EVCS, a panel  600  is installed into the door or panel  108  of the existing EVCS  100  shown in  FIG. 6 . Like the panel  500  shown in  FIG. 5 , the panel  600  shown in  FIG. 6  includes the seismic sensor PCBA  402 , the battery pack  404 , and the main control unit PCBA  401 , but lacks the communication PCBA  406 , the cellular modem  408 , and the antenna  412  present in the panel  400  of  FIG. 4 . A control signal conductor  414  is connected between the main control unit PCBA  410  of the panel  600  through the existing EVCS  100  and to the ATS  424  in the housing  420 . A remotely resettable circuit breaker  422  can be installed into the existing EVCS  100  and connected to the main control unit PCBA  410 . 
     Any of the loads  328  shown in  FIG. 3  can also part of a retrofit kit or assembly and added to any existing EVCS, such as any of those shown and described in connection with  FIG. 1 ,  2 ,  4 ,  5 , or  6 . 
     While particular embodiments and applications of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations can be apparent from the foregoing descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.