Patent ID: 8423215

Claim:
An electric vehicle battery charging system, comprising: a battery pack, wherein said battery pack is configured for use within an electric vehicle and to provide power to said electric vehicle, and wherein said battery pack is comprised of at least one metal-air cell; at least one oxygen concentration sensor, said at least one oxygen concentration sensor monitoring an oxygen concentration during charging of said at least one metal-air cell; a charging system controller coupled to said at least one oxygen concentration sensor and receiving an output data signal from said at least one oxygen concentration sensor, said charging system controller configured to determine an oxygen concentration level based on said output data signal from said at least one oxygen concentration sensor, wherein said charging system controller is configured to set battery pack charging conditions based on said oxygen concentration level, wherein said battery pack charging conditions include suspension of charging system operation when said oxygen concentration level exceeds a preset level and resumption of charging system operation when said oxygen concentration level falls below said preset level; and a battery pack charging system coupleable to said battery pack and to an external power source, wherein said battery pack charging system charges said battery pack in accordance with said battery pack charging conditions set by said charging system controller.