A system for automatic shutdown of charging operations in response to a temperature increase in a charging handle of an electric vehicle charging station, comprising: a charging handle comprising a ground conductor (GROUND) and a high voltage conductor and that is connected by a charging cable to an electric vehicle charging station, said system further comprising: the charging cable, wherein the charging cable includes the high voltage conductor and a return conductor, the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the electric vehicle charging station comprises a ground fault detector connected between the high voltage conductor and the return conductor, the charging handle including the return conductor, and a circuit comprising a temperature sensor; characterized in that the temperature sensor is connected between the ground conductor and the high voltage conductor in the charging handle; and said circuit is configured such that when the temperature sensor is exposed to an increase in temperature in the charging handle, a portion of current in the high voltage conductor flows through the temperature sensor to the ground conductor, instead of the return conductor, thereby causing the ground fault detector to trip in the charging station, wherein the electric vehicle charging station is configured to differentiate between ground fault current signals of current leakage through a person and through the temperature sensor, and in response to detecting current leakage through the temperature sensor, to reduce a rate of charge provided to an electric vehicle connected to the charging handle, to continue charging the electric vehicle at the reduced rate to reduce resistive heating of conductors and contact points within the charging handle. a charging handle comprising a ground conductor (GROUND) and a high voltage conductor and that is connected by a charging cable to an electric vehicle charging station, said system further comprising: the charging cable, wherein the charging cable includes the high voltage conductor and a return conductor, the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the electric vehicle charging station comprises a ground fault detector connected between the high voltage conductor and the return conductor, the charging handle including the return conductor, and a circuit comprising a temperature sensor; the charging cable, wherein the charging cable includes the high voltage conductor and a return conductor, the electric vehicle charging station, wherein the electric vehicle charging station comprises a ground fault detector connected between the high voltage conductor and the return conductor, the charging handle including the return conductor, and a circuit comprising a temperature sensor; and said circuit is configured such that when the temperature sensor is exposed to an increase in temperature in the charging handle, a portion of current in the high voltage conductor flows through the temperature sensor to the ground conductor, instead of the return conductor, thereby causing the ground fault detector to trip in the charging station, wherein the electric vehicle charging station is configured to differentiate between ground fault current signals of current leakage through a person and through the temperature sensor, and in response to detecting current leakage through the temperature sensor, to reduce a rate of charge provided to an electric vehicle connected to the charging handle, to continue charging the electric vehicle at the reduced rate to reduce resistive heating of conductors and contact points within the charging handle.