Patent ID: 8072182

Claim:
A closed-circuit battery charging system comprising: a hybrid automotive vehicle having a gasoline engine, an energy storage device fuel tank for the engine, an electric motor, energy storage batteries for the motor, and a generator, all interacting for the electric motor to draw energy from the batteries when accelerating the vehicle, and to return energy to the batteries when slowing the vehicle; a below-ground supply of electrical energy; an insulated vertical post extending above-ground and coupled with said below-ground electrical energy supply to provide a source of transmitted electrical power for charging said energy storage batteries; a receiver of transmitted electrical power within an insulated coating on the front bumper of the vehicle positioned to inductively couple with said source; and means within the vehicle coupled between the receiver on the vehicle and the batteries thereof to automatically begin charging the batteries when the vehicle is parked with the front bumper in physical contact with the insulated vertical post for electrical inductance coupling to occur between the source of electrical power and the receiver; wherein the source of electrical power is embedded within the vertical post along an external surface thereof, and wherein the receiver is embedded within the insulated coating extending sideways, from side-to-side thereof, horizontally and substantially along the entire length of the front bumper of the automotive vehicle.