Patent ID: 8368352

Claim:
A charging and discharging system for a vehicle that allows charging of a power storage device mounted on the vehicle from a power supply external to the vehicle and allows power feeding from said power storage device to said power supply or an electric load external to the vehicle, comprising: a power converting device configured to be capable of operating in any one of a charging mode in which a voltage of electric power supplied from said power supply is converted and said power storage device is charged with the electric power, and a power feeding mode in which a voltage of electric power output from said power storage device is converted and the electric power is supplied to said power supply or said electric load; a controller mounted on said vehicle, for controlling said power converting device in any one of said charging mode and said power feeding mode; and a signal generating circuit provided outside said vehicle, for generating a control signal whose pulse width is modulated based on magnitude of a current that can be transmitted and received through a power cable electrically connecting said power supply or said electric load with said vehicle, and for sending the generated control signal to said controller, said signal generating circuit generating said control signal to allow distinction as to whether said power cable is for charging or for power feeding, and said controller controlling said power converting device in any one of said charging mode and said power feeding mode, in response to said control signal provided from said signal generating circuit.