Electric vehicle charger interface

Abstract

Methods, systems, and apparatus, for implementing an EV interface system. In one aspect, a system includes a charger connection device including at least one receptacle configured to receive a first charging port of an EV charging station. The system also includes a second charging port and electrical conductors that connect the at least one receptacle to the second charging port.

Description

ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGER INTERFACECLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 627,440, filed on January 31, 2024, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.BACKGROUND

[0002] This specification relates to improvements to charging stations, such as electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. An electric vehicle charging station is a system that provides electric energy to recharge the battery of an electric vehicle. A charging port physically connects to the car and enables power to flow from the EV charging station to the car by way of a cord that connects the charging port to the charger of the EV charging station.SUMMARY

[0003] In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in an electric vehicle charger interface system, that can include a charger connection device including at least one receptacle configured to receive a first charging port of an EV charging station; a second charging port; and electrical conductors that connect the at least one receptacle to the second charging port.

[0004] The electric vehicle charger interface system can include a trunk configured to be secured to a surface; and a conduit configured to route the electrical conductors vertically along a vertical length of the trunk. The conduit can be located inside of the trunk. The trunk can be secured to the surface using adhesive.

[0005] The electric vehicle charger interface system can include a first connector interface configured to facilitate a connection to a second connector interface of a parking wedge. The first connector can be located lower on the trunk than the at least one receptacle.

[0006] The parking wedge can have a conduit located within an exterior frame of the parking wedge. The conduit can include a shelf conduit that is elevated relative to a bottom surface of the parking wedge and provides a single runway at a given height. The conduit can include a tree conduit structure having a plurality of conductor supports that are elevated relative to a bottom surface of the parking wedge. At least two of the conductor supports ofthe tree conduit structure can be at different elevations relative to the bottom surface of the parking wedge.

[0007] A bottom surface of the parking structure can have an opening defined therein configured to provide access to an interior of the parking wedge. The bottom surface of the parking wedge can be pivotably attached to an insulator that is configured to electrically isolate the bottom surface of the parking wedge from the ground.

[0008] The parking wedge can have a ramp shape. The parking wedge can be configured to electrically connect to two or more charging access points that each has a charging port configured to connect to an electric vehicle. The two or more charging access points can be located closer to designated electric vehicle parking locations than the EV charger.

[0009] The electric vehicle charger interface system can include a communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the EV charging station. The communications device can be configured to submit, to the EV charging station, input received at the electric vehicle charger interface system.

[0010] The electric vehicle charger interface system can include two or more charging access points, wherein (i) the second charging port is included in at least one of the two or more charging access points, and (ii) the second charging port outputs power obtained from the EV charging station through the charger connection device.

[0011] The electric vehicle charger interface system can include a power converter configured to convert power input to the at least one receptacle from direct current or low frequency alternating current to a high frequency alternating current.

[0012] Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, methods, and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices.

[0013] In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods that include the actions of receiving a charger connection device including: a trunk configured to be secured to a surface; at least one receptacle configured to receive a first charging port of an EV charging station; a conduit configured to route electrical conductors from the at least one receptacle to a first connector interface configured to interface with a second connection interface of a second device; securing the trunk to the surface; connecting the first connector interface to the secondconnector interface; and connecting the second device to two or more charging access points that each output power obtained from the EV charging station through the charger connection device.

[0014] Other embodiments of this aspect include corresponding systems, apparatus, , and computer programs, configured to perform the actions of the methods, encoded on computer storage devices.

[0015] The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a vehicle connected to an EV charging station.

[0017] FIG. 2 is an illustration showing an example configuration of an electric vehicle charger interface system that can be connected to the EV charging station.

[0018] FIGs. 3A and 3B are side views of an example parking wedge that can be included in an EV interface.

[0019] FIGs. 4A and 4B are illustrations of another example parking wedge.

[0020] FIGs. 5A and 5B are illustrations of another example parking wedge.

[0021] FIGs. 6A and 6B are side views of another example parking wedge.

[0022] FIG. 7A is a side view of another example parking wedge.

[0023] FIG. 7B is a side view of the parking wedge in an open position.

[0024] FIG. 8A is a side view of an example connectorized parking wedge.

[0025] FIG. 8B is a back view of the parking wedge of FIG. 8A.

[0026] FIG. 9 is a side view of another example parking wedge.

[0027] FIG. 10A is an illustration of another example configuration of an EV charger interface system.

[0028] FIG 10B is another view of the EV interface system of FIG. 10A.

[0029] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an example process for implementing an EV charger interface system.

[0030] Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] FIG. 1 is an illustration 100 of an electric vehicle (EV) 110 connected to an EV charging station 120, also referred to as an EV charger or charging station. As shown, the charging station 120 has a charging cord 130 that connects the EV charger to a charging port 140 of the charging station 120. The charging port 140 is configured to physically connect the charging station 120 to the EV 110. Usually, the charging cord 130 is very long (e.g., the length of the vehicles intended to be charged) so that the charging port 140 at the end of the charging cord 130 can reach a charging receptacle of the vehicle that receives the charging port 140 of the charging station 120. For example, while the EV 110 is shown with the charging port 140 connected at an end of the EV 110 that is closest to the charging station 120, the charging cord 130 is generally long enough to reach the opposite end of the EV 110 so that the charging port 140 can still be connected to the EV 110 if its charging receptacle was located at the other end of the EV 110, or the EV 110 pulled into the parking space in the opposite direction. Furthermore, a parking block 150 can be used to maintain a safe distance between the EV 110 and the charging station 120, which increases the length of the charging cord 130 that is needed to ensure the charging port 140 can reach the charging receptacle of the EV 110. This often results in portions of the charging cord 130 being placed on the ground, either strewn about, or piled up, which creates a significant tripping hazard to people walking, or otherwise moving about, near the exposed charging cord 130. This tripping hazard is exacerbated when the charging port 140 of the EV charging station 120 is not properly stowed after use. For example, if the charging port 140 is simply placed on the ground when charging is completed, the charging cord 130 may create a larger tripping zone.

[0032] A parking block 150 is a device generally used to indicate the proper parking spot for a vehicle and maintain a safe distance between the vehicle and other objects, such as walls, buildings, walkways and charging stations. The parking block 150 can be made of concrete, plastic, rubber, or another appropriate rigid material, and is placed along the edge of a parking space to physically prevent a vehicle from rolling over the curb or into another space. The parking block 150 can be secured to the ground using anchor bolts. For example, the parking block 150 can be drilled and then bolted to the surface of the pavement or concrete using concrete anchors. The anchors often include a threaded rod, typically made of steel, that is embedded into the concrete, with a nut and washer on the end to hold the blockin place. Once installed, the parking block 150 is generally not movable, and the charging cord 130 is often laid over the parking block 150 when the charging port 140 is attached to the EV 110, which increases the trip hazard of the charging cord 130 because it is now elevated off the ground, rather than laying flat on the ground.

[0033] The trip hazard caused by charging cords that are laying on the ground and / or elevated off the ground by parking blocks can be reduced or eliminated by using an EV charger interface that is located between the EV charging station 120 and the EV. As discussed in more detail below, the EV charger interface can be configured in various ways to reduce the amount of the charging cord that is laying on the ground, conceal portions of the charging cord that are on the ground, and / or route power to an appropriate location for charging the EV.

[0034] FIG. 2 is an illustration 200 showing an example configuration of an electric vehicle charger interface system (referred to as an EV interface for brevity) that can be connected to the EV charging station 120 to reduce trip hazards caused by charging cords of the EV charging station 120. In this illustration 200, the EV interface is implemented using a parking wedge 202. As depicted, the parking wedge 202 has a ramp shape, and is installed with the lower edge 204 of the ramp shape facing a designated parking location 206 for an EV. Meanwhile the higher edge 208 of the ramp shape is closer to the EV charging station 120 than the lower edge 204 of the ramp shape. Note that the parking wedge can be formed in other shapes besides a ramp shape. For example, the parking wedge can be formed in any of a semi-circle shape, a rectangular shape, or any other appropriate shape for providing an elevated structure.

[0035] The parking wedge 202 is configured to connect to the EV charging station 120 using a set of conductors (e g., 1 or more conductors), which is referred to as a charging cable 210. In some implementations, the parking wedge 202 and the EV charging station can be hardwired together, e.g., in the case of a new installation. For example, the charging cable 210 can be connected to power terminals located in the EV charging station 120 at the time of installation. In this example, the length of the charging cable 210 can be cut based on the distance between the EV charging station 120 and the parking wedge 202, thereby limiting the amount of exposed charging cable 210 that is on the ground between the EV charging station 120 and the parking wedge 202.

[0036] The parking wedge 202 has an interior conductor set 212 that is located within the exterior frame of the parking wedge 202. The interior conductor set 212 can be the charging cable 210, or a separate set of conductors to which the charging cable 210 is connected. For example, as discussed in more detail below, the interior conductor set 212 can be connected to the charging cable 210 by way of a connector that is located on the side or a backside (e.g., a side of the higher ramp edge) of the parking wedge 202. Other components can also be connected between the charging cable 210 and the parking wedge 202, as discussed in detail below.

[0037] The electrical connection between the EV charging station 120 and the interior conductor set 212 enables power to be made available at various locations along the lateral distance of the parking wedge 202 (e.g., across two or more designated EV parking locations). For example, the interior conductor set 212 can provide power to two EV terminals 214 and 216, which can be implemented as charging access points described in more detail below. Each of the EV terminals 214 and 216 can be structures at which the power provided by the EV charging station 120 can be accessed, thereby functioning as EV charging access points. For example, the EV terminals can include charging ports 218 and 220 that are configured to plug into the charging receptacle of an EV. Each of the charging ports 218 and 220 obtain power from the EV charger through an electrical connection to the interior conductor set 212 that is routed through the interior of the parking wedge 202. This reduces / eliminates exposed charging cords that would otherwise be laying on the ground between the EV charging station 120 and locations of the EV terminals 214 and 216 if the parking wedge 202 were not utilized.

[0038] In some implementations, the EV terminals 214 and 216 can be configured as structures that house the charging ports 218 and 220, and any additional conductors needed to reach charging receptacles of EVs parked near the EV terminals 214 and 216. Because the EV terminals 214 and 216 obtain power from the EV charging station, the EV terminals 214 and 216 can be configured without or otherwise lack the ability to generate the power required to charge EVs. As such, the EV terminals 214 and 216 can operate as remote connection points that deliver EV charging power generated by the EV charging station 120.

[0039] In some implementations, the EV terminals 214 and 216 can be configured to utilize a small portion of the power provided by the EV charging station 120 (or anotherpower source) to power one or more electrical components. For example, the EV terminals 214 and 216 can each include a communications device 222 and 224, respectively. Each of the communications devices 222 and 224 can be configured to wirelessly communicate with the EV charging station 120. As such, functionality provided by the EV charging station 120 can be provided at the EV terminals 214 and 216, thereby eliminating the need for a user to interact directly with the EV charging station 120. For instance, the communications devices 222 and 224 can be configured to replicate a user interface of the EV charging station 120 at a display of the EV terminals 214 and 216, and relay input received at the EV terminals 214 and 216 to the EV charging station 120. In this way, the EV terminals 214 and 216 can functions as extensions of the EV charging station 120.

[0040] FIGs. 3A and 3B are side views of an example parking wedge 300. In FIG. 3A, the parking wedge 300 is shown having a continuous bottom surface 310 between the front (e g., right side of FIG. 3A) and back (e.g., left side of FIG. 3A) of the parking wedge 300. The parking wedge 300 also has a side access panel 302, which is shown in an open position. With the side access panel 302 in the open position, the interior 304 of the parking wedge 300 is accessible, thereby enabling a set of interior conductors to be routed through the parking wedge 300.

[0041] The interior 304 of the parking wedge 300 can form / include a conduit for the set of interior conductors. For example, the exterior frame 306 of the parking wedge 300 forms a protective structure for the set of interior conductors that are routed through the parking wedge 300, thereby effectively functioning as a conduit for the setoff interior conductors. Additionally, the interior 304 of the parking wedge 300 can include raceways, such as a shelf conduit 308 that is elevated relative to the bottom surface 310 of the parking wedge 300. As discussed in more detail below, the set of interior conductors can be placed on the shelf conduit 308 to prevent the set of interior conductors from contacting the ground. The shelf conduit 308 can be formed from an insulating material, such as plastic, that electrically isolates conductors placed on the shelf conduit 308 from the exterior frame 306 of the parking wedge 300, which can be constructed from steel or another appropriate material to provide the rigidity required of a parking structure. In some implementations, the shelf conduit 308 provides a single runway at a given height within the parking wedge 300. Other appropriate conduit materials can also be included within the parking wedge 300.

[0042] The access panel 302 of the parking wedge 300 can be configured with an access port 312 that provides an interface between the interior 304 and the exterior of the parking wedge 300. The access port 312 is depicted as a grommet through which conductors can be passed, but the access port 312 could be implemented as a connectorized interface similar to those discussed in more detail below. As shown in FIG. 3B, which depicts the access panel 302 in the closed position, the access port 312 is aligned relative to the shelf conduit 308, for example, so that conductors passed through the access port 312 will rest on the shelf conduit 308 without requiring more than a specified amount of conductor flexion within the parking wedge 300.

[0043] FIGs. 4A and 4B are illustrations of another example parking wedge 400. The parking wedge 400 is similar to the parking wedge 300 discussed above. For example, the parking wedge 400 is depicted as having a ramp shape, and includes a shelf conduit 402 that is similar to the shelf conduit 308 discussed with respect to the parking wedge 300. However, unlike the parking wedge 300, the parking wedge 400 does not have a continuous bottom surface between the front (e.g., right side of FIG. 4A) and the back (e.g., left side of FIG. 4A) of the parking wedge 400. Rather, the bottom surface 404 of the parking wedge 400 has a void 406 defined therein to provide access to the interior of the parking wedge 400 through the bottom void 406. In some implementations, the void 406 can be formed so that a specified portion of the bottom surface 404 remains to engage with the ground 408, and provide support for the parking wedge 400. The size of the solid portion of the bottom surface 404 that is provided can be determined based on an amount of surface area needed to secure the parking wedge 400 to the ground and / or adequately support the parking wedge 400. For example, if an adhesive is being used to secure the parking wedge 400 to the ground, the portion of the bottom surface 404 can be large enough to ensure that the adhesive is able to secure the parking wedge 400 even when the parking wedge is exposed to a specified amount of lateral force.

[0044] As shown in FIG. 4B, when the void 406 is defined in the bottom surface 404, the parking wedge 400 can be rotated onto its back 410 (e.g., the higher end of the ramp shape) to provide access to the interior of the parking wedge. For example, when the parking wedge 400 is rotated up on its back 410, an interior set of conductors can be placed within the parking wedge 400 (e.g., placed on the shelf conduit 402). Once the interior set ofconductors is placed within the parking wedge 400, the front 412 of the parking wedge 400 can be returned to the ground 408, thereby securing the interior set of conductors within the parking wedge 400. When the void 406 is created in the bottom surface 404, the access panel 302 discussed above can be eliminated.

[0045] To facilitate access to the interior of the parking wedge 400, the transition 414 between the back 410 of the parking wedge 400 and the bottom surface 404 can be curved. By curving the transition 414, the parking wedge 400 will be easier to rotate onto its back 410. Curving the transition 414 can also make it easier to rotate the front 412 back to the ground 408 after accessing the interior of the parking wedge 400.

[0046] FIGs. 5A and 5B are illustrations of another example parking wedge 500. The parking wedge 500 is similar to the parking wedge 400, for example, having a shelf conduit 502 located on the interior surface of the back 504 of the parking wedge 500. The parking wedge 500 also has a void 506 defined in the bottom surface 508 of the parking wedge 500. The parking wedge 500 is shown with the interior set of conductors 510 installed within the parking wedge 500 (e.g., placed on the shelf conduit). The parking wedge 500 is also shown as being installed (e.g., secured to the ground 512) by adhesive 514.

[0047] The parking wedge 500 can be secured to the ground 512, for example, by placing the adhesive 514 on the bottom surface 508 of the parking wedge 500 and placing the parking wedge 500 on the ground (e.g., an asphalt or concrete surface). The adhesive 514 can be an anchoring adhesive that can include a combination of ingredients that create a strong bond. For example, the adhesive can be a combination of quartz (SiO2) and vinyltoluene, which creates a bond stronger than concrete once cured. While the parking wedge 500 can be secured with bolts that are drilled into the ground, using adhesive can prevent damage to the asphalt / concrete that may be caused by drilling into these surfaces. For example, drilling into asphalt / concrete can cause cracks in the asphalt / concrete and / or reduce the durability of the asphalt / concrete, which can increase the likelihood of future cracks. Since no holes must be drilled to use the adhesive 514, the structural integrity of the asphalt / concrete remain intact.

[0048] FIG. 5B again shows the parking wedge 500, but in this illustration, the parking wedge 500 is secured to an insulator 516, which is secured to the ground 512. The insulator 516 can be any material that electrically isolates the metal of the parking wedge 500 from theground 512. For example, the insulator 516 can be a rubber material, plastic material, wood material, a composite material, or any other appropriate material. In addition to electrically insulating the parking wedge 500 from the ground 512, the insulator 516 can also be configured to provide environmental protection between the parking wedge 500 and the ground 512. For example, the insulator 516 can be a material that prevents water from entering the interior of the parking wedge 500.

[0049] FIGs. 6A and 6B are side views of another example parking wedge 600. The parking wedge 600 is similar to the parking wedge 500, except that the parking wedge 600 is implemented with a tree conduit 602 rather than the shelf conduit 502. As depicted, the tree conduit 602 provides multiple conductor supports (e.g., raceways) at different heights within the parking wedge 600. For example, the tree conduit 602 includes three conductor supports 604, 606, and 608, which are each elevated at different heights relative to the bottom surface 610 of the parking wedge 600.

[0050] The tree conduit 602 also has a center stalk 612 that segments each of the conductor supports 604, 606, and 608 into two separate raceways for two different conductors that are on the same conductor support. For example, the center stalk 612 bisects the conductor support 604, which delineates the conductor support 604 into two separate raceways that support the conductors 614 and 616. In this way, the conductors 614 and 616 can remain physically separated from each other. As shown, the center stalk 612 similarly segments the conductor supports 606 and 608 into four physically separated conductor raceways. In some implementations, the center stalk 612 can be formed from an insulating material (e.g., rubber or plastic), thereby providing electrical isolation between the conductors 614 and 616, as well as any two conductors that are on opposite sides of the center stalk 612 (e g., conductors on the conductor supports 606 and 608). The conductor supports 604, 606, and 608 can similarly be formed from an insulating material to provide electrical isolation between conductors resting on different conductor supports even if the conductors are on the same side of the central stalk 612.

[0051] Conductors can be inserted into the tree conduit 602 through the void 618 that is defined (e.g., formed) in the bottom surface 610 of the parking wedge 600, for example, in a manner similar to that discussed with reference to FIGs. 4A and 4B. In some implementations, the conductor supports 604, 606, and 608 can be configured to provideraceways in which the conductors are passively laid into the raceway. For example, the dimensions of the opening of the conductor supports 604, 606, and 608 in which the conductors are placed can be sufficiently larger than the conductor dimensions such that force is not needed to lay the conductors into the conductor supports 604, 606, and 608.

[0052] In some implementations, the conductor supports 604, 606, and 608 are configured to actively secure the conductors in the tree conduit 602. For example, the conductor supports 604, 606, and 608 can be formed from a material having sufficient flexion / rigidity that allows for the conductors to be pressed into the conductor supports 604, 606, and 608, through application of sufficient force, and then recoil to hold the conductors in place. This can prevent unintended displacement of the conductors, for example, that may be caused by movement of the parking wedge 600 during installation.

[0053] The parking wedge 600 is shown as being secured by an adhesive 620 that secures the bottom surface 610 of the parking wedge 600 to the ground 622 in FIG. 6A. Meanwhile, FIG. 6B shows the parking wedge 600 secured to an insulator plate 624, in a manner similar to that discussed above with reference to FIG. 5B.

[0054] FIG. 7A is a side view of another example parking wedge 700. The parking wedge 700 is similar to the parking wedge 600, but includes a hinge 702 (or other appropriate hardware) that pivotably / rotatably attaches / connects the parking wedge 700 to an insulator 704. The hinge 702 can be secured to the rear bottom surface 706 of the parking wedge 700 using any appropriate fastener and / or adhesive. For example, the hinge 702 can be bolted to the rear bottom surface 706, welded to the rear bottom surface 706, or glued to the rear bottom surface 706 (e.g., using an adhesive similar to that discussed above). The hinge 702 can similarly secured to the insulator 704 using any appropriate fastener and / or adhesive.

[0055] The forward bottom surface 708 (e.g., closer to the lower edge of the ramp shape than the hinge 702) can be secured to the insulator 704 using an adhesive 710 in a manner similar to that previously described. Similarly, the insulator 704 can be secured to the ground 712 using the adhesive 710. The insulator 704 can be configured to electrically isolate the parking wedge (e.g., the bottom surfaces 706 and 708) from the ground 712.

[0056] FIG. 7B is a side view of the parking wedge 700 in an open position. The parking wedge 700 can be in this open position, for example, during installation to facilitate insertionof the conductors into the tree conduit 714. For example, the forward bottom surface 708 can be lifted, which will cause the hinge 702 to rotate open, thereby exposing the void 716 and providing access to the tree conduit 714. Once the conductors have been inserted into the tree conduit 714, the forward bottom surface 708 can be lowered back down to engage the insulator 704 (e.g., insulator plate). Adhesive can be applied to the forward bottom surface 708 or the top of insulator 704 before lowering the forward bottom surface 708, such that when the forward bottom surface engages the insulator 704, the adhesive will bond the forward bottom surface 708 to the insulator 704.

[0057] FIG. 8A is a side view of an example connectorized parking wedge 800. The connectorized parking wedge 800 includes a connector interface 802 that is configured to electrically connect the parking wedge 800 to a connector 804 of a power source 806. The power source 806 can be an EV charging station, a generator, a connection to a public electric utility, a connection to a solar / wind power source, or another appropriate power source. The connector interface 802 can be a standard EV charging interface. For example, depending on the geography and the charging level, the connector interface 802 can be selected from among the following types of EV charging interfaces:1. JI 772 Connector: This is a Level 2 charging connector that is used in North America, and it provides up to 240V of power. It features a standard five-pin configuration and is compatible with most EVs on the market.2. CCS Connector: This is a Combined Charging System connector that can support both Level 2 and DC fast charging. It features a two-pin DC charging connector that is located below the Level 2 charging connector. The CCS connector is commonly used in North America, Europe, and Asia.3. CHAdeMO Connector: This is a Level 3 DC fast charging connector that is primarily used in Japan and Europe. It features a unique design that includes a large, circular connector with two small pins at the bottom.4. Tesla Connector: This is a proprietary charging connector used exclusively by Tesla vehicles. It supports Level 2 and Level 3 DC fast charging and features a unique six-pin configuration.5. Type 2 Connector: This is a European standard charging connector that supports both Level 2 and DC fast charging. It features a seven-pin configuration and is commonly used in Europe.6. GB / T Connector: This is a Chinese national standard charging connector that supports both Level 2 and DC fast charging. It features a nine-pin configuration and is commonly used in China.

[0058] The connector interface 802 can be selected to pair with an existing connector 804, or vice versa. The connector interface 802 and connector 804 can be any other appropriate connector pair that enables power to flow from the power source 806 to the conductors 808 that are within the parking wedge 800.

[0059] Using a connector interface 802 to facilitate the connection between the conductors 808 and the power source 806 can reduce the amount of time and skill level required to install the parking wedge 800. For example, the tree conduit 810 and the conductors 808 can be inserted into the parking wedge 800 during the manufacturing process. Similarly, the connector interface 802 can be connected to the conductors 808 and secured to the back 812 (or side) of the parking wedge 800 during the manufacturing process such that at the time of install, the parking wedge only needs to be secured to the ground 816 using the adhesive, and connected to the connector 804.

[0060] The connector interface 802 / connector 804 implementation is one way in which the conductors 808 can electrically interface with the external power source 806. For example, the conductors 808 could be routed through an opening in the parking wedge 800. In these implementations a grommet (e.g., a rubber or plastic ring) can be inserted into the opening formed in the parking wedge 800 to protect the conductors 808 from being damaged by edges of the opening. Alternatively, the conductors 808 can be protected by a bushing, braided sleeves placed over the outside of the conductors 808, heat shrink tubing, or other appropriate devices / materials that reduce the risk of damage to insulators of the conductors 808 that are passed through a hole in the parking wedge. In still other implementations, the conductors can be passed through a conduit that is formed, for example, at the base of the parking wedge 800 (e.g., similar to the location of the connector interface 802), and the connectors 808 can be passed through the conduit to the power source 806. The conduit can extend any desired length, such as just several inches outside the parking wedge 800, theentire distance between the parking wedge 800 and the power source 806, or any distance between the parking wedge 800 and the power source 806. These, and other, alternatives to the use of the connector interface 802 can be used in place of any connector interface discussed throughout this document (e.g., in place of connectors discussed with reference to FIG. 9, 10A, and / or 10B). For brevity, these options are not repeated with reference to those figures.

[0061] FIG. 8B is a back view of the parking wedge 800. In this view, more details of the connector interface 802 are shown. In this example, the connector is depicted as a JI 772 connector, such that the parking wedge 800 can be directly connected to the charging port of a charging station that utilizes the JI 772 connector. The conductors 808 are shown passing through the tree conduit 810. As shown, center stalks 812 of the tree conduit 810 are spaced out, and located to provide sufficient support of the conductor supports 814.

[0062] FIG. 9 is a side view of another example parking wedge 900. The parking wedge 900 is substantially similar to the parking wedge 800, but the connector interface 902 is located on the side of the parking wedge 900, rather than the back 904. Also, the parking wedge 900 is shown as secured to an insulator 906, which is secured to the ground 908. The conductors 910 are shown in the tree conduit 912, but the details of routing the conductors 910 from the connector 902 to the tree conduit 912 are not shown.

[0063] FIG. 10A is an illustration of another example configuration of an EV charger interface system 1000. The EV interface system 1000 includes a parking wedge 1002 that can be similar to any of the parking wedges (or combinations thereof) discussed herein. In some implementations, the parking wedge 1002 can have a length spanning multiple parking spaces (e.g., 20 feet or longer) to facilitate providing power from the EV charger 1006 to multiple different EV charging locations for charging multiple EVs. Of course, the parking wedge 1002 can have any other desired length.

[0064] The EV interface system 1000 also includes a legacy charger connection device (LCCD) 1004 that is configured to connect the EV interface system 1000 to a legacy (e.g., previously installed) EV charger 1006. Of course, the EV interface system 1000 can be used with newly installed EV chargers (e.g., to provide a plug and play system rather than connecting to a previously installed EV charger). The LCCD 1004 includes at least one receptacle configured to receive a charging port (e.g., first charging port) of the EV charger1006. As shown, the LCCD 1004 includes two receptacles 1008 and 1010 that are respectively configured to receive the charging ports 1012 and 1014 of the EV charger 1006. For example, each of the receptacles 1008 and 1010 can include a connector that is able to pair with the connector configuration of the charging ports 1012 and 1014. In a specific example, the charging ports 1012 and 1014 may have J1772 connectors, and in this example, the receptacles 1008 and 1010 can also have JI 772 connectors that mate with the J 1772 connectors of the charging ports 1012 and 1014. In this way, the charging ports 1012 and 1014 can be plugged into the LCCD 1004, thereby providing an electrical (and physical) connection between the LCCD 1004 and the EV charger 1006.

[0065] The LCCD 1004 includes a trunk 1016 that is configured to be secured to a surface, such as asphalt or concrete. For example, the trunk 1016 can be a metal (e.g., steel) structure that provides sufficient rigidity to support the components of the LCCD 1004, and has a sufficient bottom surface area that is able to be affixed to the surface. In some situations, the trunk 1016 is affixed to the surface using an adhesive in a similar manner as discussed above. In other situations, the trunk 1016 can be affixed to the surface using bolts or other appropriate fasteners.

[0066] The LCCD 1004 also includes a conduit 1018 that is configured to route electrical conductors vertically along the vertical length (as installed) of the trunk 1016. The electrical conductors are configured to connect the at least one receptacle (e.g., receptacles 1008 and 1010) to another charging port (e.g., a second charging port), as discussed in more detail below. In some implementations, the conduit 1018 can be located / formed inside the trunk 1016. For example, the trunk 1016 can have a hollow channel formed inside the external frame of the trunk 1016, which can function as the conduit for the electrical conductors that connect the receptacles 1008 and 1010 to additional charging ports other than the charging ports 1012 and 1014 of the EV charger 1006. In some implementations, the conduit 1018 can be located outside of the trunk 1016. For example, the conduit can be formed / or installed on the outside surface of trunk 1016.

[0067] The LCCD 1004 can be connected to the parking wedge 1002 by a conductor 1020. The conductor can be connected between the LCCD 1004 and the parking wedge 1002, for example, using connector interfaces. The connection interfaces can be, for example, standard J1772 connectors that are used to facilitate a plug and play installation ofthe EV interface system 1000. More specifically, the conductor 1020 can have a connector on either end, or both ends, and therefore, plug into a connector interface on either, or both, of the LCCD 1004 and the parking wedge 1002. In other words, the LCCD 1004 can have a first connector interface that is configured to connect to one connector of the conductor 1020, and the parking wedge 1002 can have a second connector interface that is configured to connect to another connector of the conductor 1020.

[0068] To reduce tripping hazards, the first connector interface 1022 of the LCCD 1004 can be located lower on the trunk than the receptacles 1008 and 1010 of the LCCD 1004, thereby exposing the conductor 1020 at a location close to the ground. For example, the connector interface can be near (e.g., within a specified distance of) the surface on which the trunk 1016 is affixed. As shown, the first connector interface is represented by the square 1022. As shown in more detail with reference to FIG. 10B, placing the connector interface 1022 closer to the ground reduces the amount of the conductor 1020 that is exposed between the trunk 1016 and the parking wedge 1002.

[0069] As previously discussed, the parking wedge 1002 has a set of interior conductors 1024 that are routed through the parking wedge 1002, and facilitate an electrical connection to charging access points 1026. These charging access points 1026 each has a charging port 1028 configured to connect to an EV. For example, the charging ports 1028 can have J1227 connectors or other appropriate connectors that interface with charging receptacles of EVs. By using the parking wedge 1002 to facilitate the electrical connection to the charging access points 1026, the charging access points 1026 are located closer to designated EV parking locations 1030 than the EV charger 1006. In this way, the length of the charging cable used to connect the charging ports 1028 of the charging access points 1026 than the charging cable length required to connect the charging ports 1012 and 1014 of the EV charger 1006 to EVs in the designated EV parking locations 1030, which reduces the tripping hazards otherwise caused by charging cables strewn across the ground.

[0070] Components of the EV interface system 1000 can include a set of communications devices (e.g., one or more communications devices) that facilitate communication between the various components of the EV interface system 1000. For example, the LCCD 1004 can include a communications device 1032 that is configured to wirelessly communicate with another communications device 1034 that is included in the EVcharger 1006. For example, the communications device 1034 of the EV charger 1006 can transmit, to the communications device 1032 of the LCCD 1004, data that cause a display of the LCCD 1004 to display information that is normally presented to a user of the EV charger 1006. Meanwhile, the communications device 1032 of the LCCD 1004 can be configured to transmit, to the communications device 1034 of the EV charger 1006, input received at the LCCD 1004. The input received at the LCCD 1004 can be data that would normally be input to the EC charger 1006 in a standard EV station install, such that the user can complete required interactions with the EV charger 1006 by interacting with the LCCD 1004 rather than having to walk over to the EV charger 1006 to input the data. Upon receipt of data input by the user, the LCCD 1004 can submit, by way of the communications device 1032, the data input by the user to the EV charger 1006. In this way, the LCCD 1004 can operate as a remote terminal of the EV charger 1006 through the communications link to the EV charger 1006.

[0071] Each of the charging access points 1026 can also include a communications device 1036 that are configured to communicate with the communications device 1032 of the LCCD 1004 and / or the communications device 1034 of the EV charger 1034. As described above, the communications link between these devices can enable the charging access points 1026 to function as remote terminals of the EV charger 1006, thereby enabling user interactions that would have otherwise been required to be performed directly with the EV charger 1006 to be performed at the charging access points 1026, which prevents the need for the user to walk over to, or interact directly with, the EV charger 1006.

[0072] In some implementations, the EV interface system 1000 can include a set of power converter devices including one or more transformers, rectifiers, and / or inverters. The set of power converter devices can be used, for example, to convert the power transmitted through the set of interior conductors 1024 and / or the conductor 1020. For example, assume that the output of the EV charger 1006 provides low frequency AC power (or DC power) to the charging port 1012 (e.g., 22kW at 60Hz). In this example, assume that a power converter 1038 included in the LCCD 1004 is capable of converting the AC power (or DC power) of the EV charger 1006 from low frequency (or DC) / high current power to higher frequency / lower current power. In this example, the higher frequency / lower current power will require smaller conductors than the low frequency / high current output provided at thecharging port 1012 of the EV charger 1006. This can result in a reduction of the sizes of the conductor 1020 as well as the set of interior conductors 1024 running through the parking wedge 1002. Additionally, the size of the power converter required for high frequency applications is typically orders of magnitude smaller than the size of power converters required for low frequency applications, such that power converters 1040 and 1042 that can be included in the charging access points 1026 can be practically sized to fit in the charging access points 1026.

[0073] The inclusion of the power converters 1038, 1040, and 1042 in the EV interface system 1000 facilitates a configuration in which high frequency Alternating Current (“AC”) power used to facilitate EV charging. In this configuration, low frequency AC power is provided by the EV charger 1006. As used in this document, low frequency AC power includes AC power that is at, or below, 100 Hz. In some implementations, all AC power greater than 100 Hz is considered high frequency. In some implementations, AC power greater than one of 200 Hz, 300 Hz, or 400 Hz is considered high frequency AC power. In some implementations AC power greater than 1000 HZ is considered high frequency. In any of these implementations, the AC power between 100 Hz and the minimum frequency considered high frequency can be referred to as mid-frequency AC power. For example, assume that the minimum frequency used to delineate high frequency from non-high frequency AC power is set to 1000 Hz. In this example, AC power having a frequency between 100 Hz and 1000 Hz could be referred to as mid-frequency AC power.

[0074] In some implementations, the power converter 1038 includes a step-up transformer that is electrically connected to the EV charger 1006 by the charging ports 1010 and 1012. The step-up transformer is a transformer that increases the frequency of an input AC signal (e.g., the low frequency AC power provided by the EV charger 1006). A step-up transformer is used in applications where the input AC voltage is to be increased to a higher voltage level with a corresponding decrease in current. This is achieved by winding the secondary coil with more turns than the primary coil, which results in a higher voltage output. In the context of AC signals, a step-up transformer can be used to increase the frequency of the input signal by passing it through a circuit that includes a series of capacitors and inductors, known as an LC circuit. The LC circuit resonates at a specific frequency, effectively boosting the amplitude of the input signal and increasing its frequency.

[0075] In situations where the EV charger 1006 outputs DC power, the power converter 1038 can also include an inverter that converts the DC power to a low frequency AC power, which is then input to the transformer discussed above, the output of which is processed as discussed below.

[0076] In the present configuration, the low voltage AC being input to the step-up transformer is being converted to high frequency AC power (e.g., greater than 100 Hz, 200 Hz, 300 Hz, 400 Hz, or 1000 Hz) that is then output over a high frequency conductor (e.g., conductor 1020). The high frequency conductor can have smaller dimensions than the charging cords of the charging ports 1012 and 1014 because the current level of the high frequency AC power output from the step-up transformer will be lower than the current level of the low frequency power input to the step-up transformer. As such, the high frequency conductor will pose less of a trip hazard than the charging cords of the charging ports 1012 and 1014 when laying on, or secured to, the ground. For example, the high frequency conductor could be implemented as a ribbon cable (or another flat / low profile cable). In these implementations, the set of interior conductors 1024 that are routed through the parking wedge 1002 can also be implemented as high frequency conductors. The high frequency conductors can be routed through the parking wedge in any manner previously discussed, for example, or any other appropriate manner.

[0077] The power provided through the high frequency conductors is then routed to a step-down transformer that is included in the power converters 1040 and 1042 of the charging access points 1026. The step-down transformer decreases the voltage of the high frequency AC power that is input to the step-down transformer by way of the high frequency conductor. This is achieved by winding the secondary coil with fewer turns than the primary coil, which results in a lower voltage output. A step-down transformer is appropriate for applications where the input voltage is to be reduced to a lower level with a corresponding increase in current.

[0078] In the present configuration, the step-down transformer of the power converters 1040 and 1042 can convert the high frequency AC power to low frequency AC power and / or be paired with a rectifier (or other circuitry) to ultimately convert the high frequency AC power to DC if desired. When the step-down transformer is not paired with additional circuitry to convert the high frequency AC power to DC, the output of the step-downtransformer can be low frequency AC power (e.g., at or below 100Hz) that can be used to charge EVs that accept low frequency power as an input (e.g., to onboard chargers, which convert the low frequency AC power to DC).

[0079] When the step-down transformer of each of the power converters 1040 and 1042 is paired with a rectifier (or other circuitry) the rectifier converts the AC power to DC power by allowing only the positive or negative portion of the AC waveform to pass through. A rectifier circuit typically consists of a series of diodes that are connected in a specific configuration to allow current to flow in only one direction, thereby providing a DC power output.

[0080] In some implementations, the step-down transformer of the power converters 1040 and 1042 could potentially be omitted by directly converting the high frequency AC power to DC power using a high frequency rectifier (or other circuitry) that is configured to perform the desired conversion. In these implementations, the diodes used to implement the rectifier would be chosen to have a high switching speed to handle the rapid changes in the input AC signal. The output of each of the power converters 1040 and 1042, which each include conditioning circuitry (e.g., step-down transformer and / or rectifier), is delivered to the charging ports 1028 of the charging access points 1026.

[0081] FIG 10B is another view of the EV interface system 1000. In this view, the charging access points 1026 are omitted, but the EV charger 1006, the LCCD 1004, and the parking wedge 1002 are shown. Additionally, the conductor 1020 connecting the LCCD 1004 to the parking wedge 1004 is shown. The EV charger 1006 is not a required component of the EV interface system 1000, and is only provided for a complete view of how power is provided to the parking wedge 1004.

[0082] This view of the EV interface system 1000 system also shows how the charging cord 1044 can be routed between the EV charger 1006 and the LCCD 1004. More specifically, the charging cord 1044 can emerge from the EV charger 1006, and be routed to the ground within a specified distance of the EV charger 1006. The charging cord 1044 can remain on the ground until the charging cord is within a specified distance of the LCCD 1004, at which point the charging cord 1044 can be routed toward the receptacles 1008 and 1010 (see FIG. 10A), and the charging ports 1012 and 1014 can be inserted into the receptacles 1008 and 1010, respectively. The portion of the charging cable 1044 that is onthe ground (e.g., between the EV charger 1006 and the LCCD 1004) can be covered by a cable cover 1046, which provides a protective barrier over the charging cable 1044 and prevents tripping hazards caused by the charging cable 1044 being on the ground.

[0083] The conductor 1020 that electrically connects the LCCD 1004 to the parking wedge 1004 is also shown as covered by another cable cover 1048. Like the cable cover 1046, the cable cover 1048 provides a protective barrier over the conductor 1020 and prevents tripping hazards caused by the conductor 1020 being on the ground. The conductor 1020 also has a connector 1050 that is configured to connect to on the connector interface 1052 on the parking wedge 1004. The connector 1050 and connector interface 1052 can be similar to the connector 804 and the connector interface 1052 described with reference to FIG. 8.

[0084] The connection between the connector 1050 and the connector interface 1052 enables power from the charging ports 1012 and 1014 to the set of interior conductors 1054 that are within the parking wedge 1004, which are discussed in detail with reference to FIG. 8.

[0085] FIG. 11 is a flow chart of an example process 1100 for implementing an EV charger interface system. Operations of the process 1100 can be implemented, for example, using devices that are configured (e.g., programmed) to carry out the operations of the process 1100. Operations of the process 1100 can also be implemented, at least in part, using instructions stored on a computer readable medium.

[0086] A charger connection device is received and / or manufactured (1102). The charger connection device can be implemented as described throughout this specification, for example, with reference to the LCCD. The charger connection device can include a trunk configured to be secured to a surface. The charger connection device can also include at least one receptacle configured to receive a first charging port of an EV charging station. The charger connection device can also include a conduit configured to route electrical conductors from the at least one receptacle to a first connector interface configured to interface with a second connection interface of a second device.

[0087] The trunk of the charger connection device is secured to the surface (e.g., ground) (1104). As discussed throughout this specification, the trunk can be secured to the surfaceusing an appropriate fastener and / or adhesive, for example, that can bond the trunk to asphalt or concrete.

[0088] The first connector interface of the charger connection device is connected to the second connector interface of another device (1106). In some implementations, the other device can be one or more of the parking wedges discussed throughout this specification or another appropriate device. The connection of the first connector interface to the second connector interface provides an electrical connection between the first connection interface of the charger connection device and the other device, such that power received at the charger connection device (e.g., from an EV charger) can be provided to the other device.

[0089] The second device is connected to two or more charging access points. For example, as discussed throughout this specification, a parking wedge (or another device) can be electrically connected to different charging access points thereby making EV charger power received by the parking wedge (e g., through the charger connection device) available at the charging access points. As discussed above, the charging access points can have a charging cord and a charging port that can be plugged into an EV. By routing the power from the EV charger through the charger connection device and the other device (e.g., parking wedge) to the charging access points, the power from the EV can be made available at multiple different locations that are closer to where the EVs park while being charged than the EV charger, thereby reducing the amount of charging cable that is strewn across the ground, which reduces the trip hazards.

[0090] In some implementations, EV charger data is received from the EV charger (1110). For example, one or more of (i) the charger connection device and / or (ii) the charging access points can be configured to include a wireless communications device (or a wired communications device), which can facilitate data communications between the EV charger and the one or more of (i) the charger connection device and / or (ii) the charging access points. In this way, the EV charger can transmit data that enables used to interact with the one or more of (i) the charger connection device and / or (ii) the charging access points in the same manner that the user would interact with the EV charger (e.g., providing charging account information, payment information, or otherwise providing data required to use the EV charger). This prevents the users from having to walk to the EV charger to review data provided by the EV charger. For example, the one or more of (i) the charger connectiondevice and / or (ii) the charging access points can use the received data to present a user interface / information that is normally displayed by the EV charger, thereby operating as an extension / remote terminal of the EV charger.

[0091] In some implementations, user input (or other data) is transmitted to the EV charger by the one or more of (i) the charger connection device and / or (ii) the charging access points (1112). For example, a user can input information required to initiate charging of their EV (e.g., charging account information, payment information, or other data required to use the EV charger) into the one or more of the charger connection device and / or the charging access points, rather than the EV charger, and the input data can be transmitted, or otherwise relayed, to the EV charger by the one or more of the charger connection device and / or the charging access points.

[0092] Embodiments of certain subject matter and the operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively, or in addition, the program instructions can be encoded on an artificially-generated propagated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus for execution by a data processing apparatus. A computer storage medium can be, or be included in, a computer-readable storage device, a computer-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially-generated propagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or be included in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, disks, or other storage devices).

[0093] Some or all operations described in this specification can be implemented as operations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored on one or more computer-readable storage devices or received from other sources.

[0094] The term “data processing apparatus” encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing The apparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment can realize various different computing model infrastructures, such as web services, distributed computing, and grid computing infrastructures.

[0095] A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub-programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0096] The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform actions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logiccircuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0097] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random-access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing actions in accordance with instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), to name just a few. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media, and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0098] To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with a user by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is used by the user; for example, by sending webpages to a web browser on a user’s client device in response to requests received from the web browser.

[0099] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination.Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[0100] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, the separation of various system components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

[0101] Thus, particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

[0102] What is claimed is:

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electric vehicle charger interface system, comprising: a charger connection device including at least one receptacle configured to receive a first charging port of an EV charging station; a second charging port; and electrical conductors that connect the at least one receptacle to the second charging port.

2. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 1, further comprising: a trunk configured to be secured to a surface; and a conduit configured to route the electrical conductors vertically along a vertical length of the trunk.

3. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 2, wherein the conduit is located inside of the trunk.

4. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 2, wherein the trunk is secured to the surface using adhesive.

5. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 2, further comprising a first connector interface configured to facilitate a connection to a second connector interface of a parking wedge.

6. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 5, wherein the first connector is located lower on the trunk than the at least one receptacle.

7. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 5, wherein the parking wedge has a conduit located within an exterior frame of the parking wedge.

8. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 7, wherein the conduit comprises a shelf conduit that is elevated relative to a bottom surface of the parking wedge and provides a single runway at a given height.

9. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 7, wherein the conduit comprises a tree conduit structure having a plurality of conductor supports that are elevated relative to a bottom surface of the parking wedge.

10. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 9, wherein at least two of the conductor supports are at different elevations relative to the bottom surface of the parking wedge.

11. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 7, wherein a bottom surface of the parking structure has an opening defined therein configured to provide access to an interior of the parking wedge.

12. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 11, wherein the bottom surface of the parking wedge is pivotably attached to an insulator that is configured to electrically isolate the bottom surface of the parking wedge from the ground.

13. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 6, wherein the parking wedge has a ramp shape.

14. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 6, wherein the parking wedge is configured to electrically connect to two or more charging access points that each has a charging port configured to connect to an electric vehicle.

15. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 14, wherein the two or more charging access points are located closer to designated electric vehicle parking locations than the EV charger.

16. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 14, wherein communications device is configured to submit, to the EV charging station, input received at the electric vehicle charger interface system.

17. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 1, further comprising a communication device configured to wirelessly communicate with the EV charging station.

18. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 1 , further comprising two or more charging access points, wherein (i) the second charging port is included in at least one of the two or more charging access points, and (ii) the second charging port outputs power obtained from the EV charging station through the charger connection device.

19. The electric vehicle charger interface system of claim 18, further comprising a power converter configured to convert power input to the at least one receptacle from direct current or low frequency alternating current to a high frequency alternating current.

20. A method comprising: receiving a charger connection device including: a trunk configured to be secured to a surface; at least one receptacle configured to receive a first charging port of an EV charging station; a conduit configured to route electrical conductors from the at least one receptacle to a first connector interface configured to interface with a second connection interface of a second device; securing the trunk to the surface; connecting the first connector interface to the second connector interface; and connecting the second device to two or more charging access points that each output power obtained from the EV charging station through the charger connection device.

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