Charging station, especially for electric vehicles, and methods for operating a charging station

Abstract

Charging station (1), in particular for electric vehicles, with at least one charging point (5) having a charging plug (7) for electrical connection with an electrical device to be charged, and with at least one adapter receptacle (9) which is configured to receive a plug adapter (3) configured for use with the charging plug (7), wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to alternately assume a plurality of states, wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to hold the plug adapter (3) secured against unauthorized removal in a locking state of the plurality of states and to release the plug adapter (3) for removal in an unlocking state of the plurality of states, wherein the charging station (1) also has a control device (11) which is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle (9) and configured to monitor a momentary state of the adapter receptacle (9), characterized in thatthat the control device (11) is configured to control charging operations of the charging station (1) and to complete an active charging operation by recording the unlock state in a data record associated with the active charging operation if the adapter receptacle (9) is not in the locked state.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a charging station, in particular for electric vehicles, and a method for operating a charging station.

[0002] For charging electrical devices, especially electric vehicles at charging stations, various plug and socket standards have become established in different regions. These include standards that only allow relatively slow charging via alternating current (AC), and combination standards that provide both AC and a comparatively faster DC charging option in a single plug. Furthermore, fast charging stations typically use the AC connector's contact pattern to exchange information with the device being charged, while the DC contacts are used for fast charging.Such combination standards can therefore have separate contact systems for direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC), such as CCS1 or CCS2, or they can use an identical contact system for both, such as NACS. The problem is that conventional charging stations, especially fast-charging stations, typically have a specific type of connector permanently installed, meaning that electrical devices such as electric vehicles with a charging socket incompatible with this type of connector cannot be charged. While adapter plugs exist that allow one type of plug to be adapted to another type of socket, these adapters must be carried around by the user of the electrical device, for example, in an electric vehicle.While it would be possible in principle to leave such plug adapters at a charging station, this raises further problems, especially with regard to unintentional removal or even theft by users of the charging station.

[0003] A charging station according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in CN 2 17 477 116 U and CN 2 18 085 144 U respectively. Plug adapters for use with charging stations are also disclosed in CN 2 09 904 567 U and DE 10 2021 104 259 B3.

[0004] The invention is based on the objective of creating a charging station, in particular for electric vehicles, a plug adapter for use with such a charging station and a method for operating a charging station, wherein the aforementioned disadvantages are at least reduced, preferably do not occur.

[0005] The problem is solved by providing a charging station with the features of claim 1 and a method for operating a charging station with the features of claim 7. Advantageous embodiments are described in the dependent claims.

[0006] The problem is solved, in particular, by providing a charging station, especially for electric vehicles, which has at least one charging point with at least one charging plug for electrical connection to an electrical device to be charged, in particular an electric vehicle. The charging station also has at least one adapter receptacle configured to receive a plug adapter designed for use with the charging plug, the adapter receptacle being configured to alternately assume a plurality of states. The adapter receptacle is configured to hold the plug adapter securely against unauthorized removal in a locked state of the plurality of states and to release the plug adapter for removal in an unlocked state of the plurality of states.The charging station – or a unit externally associated with the charging station – also has a control device that is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle and configured to monitor the current state of the adapter receptacle. Advantageously, at least one plug adapter can thus be stored directly in the vicinity of the charging station, particularly on the charging station itself, eliminating the need for a user of an electrical device being charged to carry such a plug adapter. Because the plug adapter is secured against unauthorized removal in the locked position of the adapter receptacle, arbitrary removal of the secured plug adapter is effectively prevented.By monitoring the current state of the adapter holder, the control device simultaneously creates a way to prevent the accidental or deliberate removal of the charging adapter and to initiate additional or alternative measures if the adapter is stolen or accidentally taken. This, in turn, is what makes providing the charging adapter at the charging station sensible and economical from the operator's perspective.

[0007] The fact that the charging station has a control device implies that the control device is assigned to the charging station in such a way that the functionality of the control device can be implemented in or by the charging station. The control device itself can be located inside or outside the charging station's housing, even remotely, for example in a backend or a cloud, or it can be implemented virtually. It is also possible that the functionality of the control device is implemented partly inside the charging station's housing and partly outside of it, whereby, in particular, different computing devices can interact to implement the functionality of the control device. In particular, the control device is thus assigned to the charging station.

[0008] In one embodiment, the control device is configured to monitor the current state of the adapter receptacle, in particular whether the adapter receptacle is in the locked or unlocked state. In this way, it can be directly determined whether the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle and also locked.

[0009] Alternatively or additionally, the control device is configured to monitor the current state of the adapter receptacle to determine whether the plug adapter is engaged, particularly by means of a suitable sensor device, which will be described below. In this way, it can be determined more generally whether the plug adapter has been retracted, regardless of its locking state. However, in a preferred embodiment, the adapter receptacle automatically enters the locking state as soon as the plug adapter is engaged.

[0010] In one embodiment, the adapter receptacle is designed as a plug socket with a locking device, particularly analogous to corresponding charging sockets known from electric vehicles, which also provide a locking mechanism for the charging plug. The adapter receptacle can be geometrically adapted to the charging plug, but not necessarily without having corresponding electrical contacts. In this case, the adapter receptacle then serves only as a geometric holder and thus for storing the plug adapter. The state of the adapter receptacle is, in this case, specifically the state of the locking mechanism of the charging socket.

[0011] It is possible that the charging station also has rain or moisture protection for the plug adapter located in the adapter holder, for example a kind of rain canopy over the adapter holder.

[0012] In another embodiment, the adapter receptacle is designed as a storage compartment or storage space with lockable access, in particular with a lockable door. In this case, the plug adapter is stored – especially within the charging station – in a protected or access-restricted area, in particular a type of safe. The state of the adapter receptacle in this case is specifically one of lockable access, in particular a lockable door.

[0013] In one embodiment, the charging station has multiple adapter receptacles for multiple charging plugs – in particular, one charging plug per adapter receptacle. Specifically, in this case, the charging station has multiple adapter receptacles for multiple different charging plugs, that is, in particular, charging plugs with different pairings of connector types – on the plug side and socket side. Advantageously, this allows more than two different electrical devices, in particular more than two different electric vehicles, with more than two different charging sockets to be charged at the charging station.

[0014] In one embodiment, the charging station has an assigned adapter receptacle for each charging point – and optionally an assigned plug adapter. In another embodiment, the charging station has multiple assigned adapter receptacles for each charging point, and optionally multiple assigned plug adapters, in particular with different pairings of connector types – on the plug side and socket side.

[0015] In electrical engineering, a charging station is any device or electrical system, particularly stationary or mobile, that serves to supply energy to mobile, battery-powered electrical devices, equipment, machines, or motor vehicles simply by placing them on the charging station or plugging them in, without necessarily having to remove the drive energy storage device—such as the traction battery of an electric car. Charging stations for electric cars are sometimes also called "electric vehicle charging stations" and can include multiple charging points. Particularly well-known are direct current fast charging systems (high-performance charging systems or high-power charging systems, HPC systems), such as the combined charging system (CCS), which is widespread in Europe.In conventional DC charging, direct current from the charging station is fed directly into the vehicle's battery. This is achieved by a high-performance rectifier, preferably located in the charging station, supplied by the power grid or by large buffer batteries at, for example, solar charging stations. The vehicle contains a battery management system that communicates directly or indirectly with the charging station to adjust the current and voltage or to terminate the charging process when a predetermined capacity limit is reached. The power electronics are typically located in the charging station. Because the DC connections of the charging station are directly connected to the corresponding terminals of the traction battery—without the need for an AC / DC converter in the vehicle—high charging currents can be transmitted with minimal loss, resulting in short charging times.

[0016] In one embodiment, the charging station is designed as a charging column. In particular, the charging station has at least one charging point, especially exactly one charging point or exactly two charging points.

[0017] In particular, the charging station is designed as a fast charging station. In one embodiment, the charging station is designed as a battery-powered charging station, specifically as a battery-powered fast charging station.

[0018] According to the invention, the control device is configured to control charging processes at the charging station. In an embodiment not part of the invention, the control device can be configured to only complete an active charging process when the adapter receptacle is in the locked position. This prevents a user from ending the charging process and leaving until the plug adapter is re-inserted into the adapter receptacle.

[0019] According to the invention, the control device is configured to complete the active charging process, recording the unlocked state in a data record associated with the active charging process, if the adapter receptacle is not in the locked state. Advantageously, this provides a way to handle situations in which the plug adapter is not reinserted into the adapter receptacle.

[0020] In one embodiment, the control device is configured to record the unlocked state in the data record by setting an entry, for example, a flag, in the data record. The control device optionally—and in particular simultaneously—notifies the police or another authority, or automatically files a report, or initiates such a measure, possibly via a backend or a cloud. Alternatively or additionally, the control device is configured to assign a penalty fee to the active charging process, in particular to charge the user a correspondingly increased fee, and thus record the unlocked state in the data record. Instead of a penalty fee, the cost or monetary value of the plug adapter itself can also be charged additionally.

[0021] In an advantageous embodiment, this is communicated to the user – in particular visually or audibly, especially via a warning message displayed on a screen of the charging station – and the user is optionally given the opportunity to return the plug adapter to the adapter holder in order to avoid the negative consequences for him.

[0022] According to a further development of the invention, the control device is configured to move the adapter receptacle into the unlocked state. Advantageously, the adapter receptacle can thus be actively released by the control device, particularly when at least one predetermined condition is met, for example, if a charging process has been successfully initiated or identified beforehand.

[0023] In one embodiment of the charging station, the adapter receptacle is designed to automatically move from the unlocked state to the locked state when the plug adapter is inserted into the receptacle. This automatic locking can be purely mechanical, for example by means of spring tension in a locking mechanism, or electrical, in particular by means of an actuator or electromagnet controlled or triggered by the plug adapter.

[0024] In another embodiment of the charging station, the control device is configured to lock the adapter receptacle, particularly when the plug adapter is inserted into the receptacle. For this purpose, the control device is operatively connected to a sensor device configured to detect that the plug adapter is inserted into the receptacle. The sensor device can be purely mechanical, particularly a type of push button, or it can include a light measurement device, such as a light barrier. It is also possible for the sensor device to include a photocell or a camera, capable of detecting changes in lighting conditions, brightness, or an image of the plug adapter positioned in the receptacle.However, the sensor device can also be electrical or electromagnetic in design and function, for example, via an electrical contact or a change in capacitance or the like.

[0025] In one embodiment, the control device is configured to release the adapter receptacle to the unlocked state only after initialization, and in particular, only after identification of a charging process. Advantageously, the plug adapter can only be released for removal once a charging process has actually been initiated and, in particular, identified. This makes it possible, if necessary, to trace the removal of the plug adapter and initiate appropriate measures accordingly.

[0026] According to a further development of the invention, the control device is configured to uniquely identify a charging process of the charging station and to assign a removal process of the plug adapter to an identified charging process when the adapter receptacle is moved into the unlocked state after the charging process has been identified. In particular, this makes it possible to assign the removal of the plug adapter to a specific charging process and simultaneously to a specific user, and to initiate appropriate measures in the event of the plug adapter being removed.

[0027] In one embodiment, the control device is configured to uniquely identify a user of the charging station and assign the charging process to that user. User identification simultaneously identifies the charging process; thus, by assigning the charging process to the user, the charging process is also assigned to the charging process. The user can be identified, in particular, by means of a charging card, which typically has an RFID chip with a specific identifier, via an app, through communication between the charging station and the device being charged (e.g., Plug & Charge), or in another suitable manner. This simultaneously identifies the charging process.

[0028] According to a further development of the invention, the adapter receptacle is configured to determine whether the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle and to move from the unlocked state to the locked state only when—and optionally always when—the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle. In one embodiment, the sensor device described above is associated with the adapter receptacle for this purpose, and is optionally operatively connected to the control device. Advantageously, the adapter receptacle is arranged in a definite state depending on the arrangement of the plug adapter in or on the adapter receptacle, namely in the unlocked state precisely when and only when the plug adapter is not received by the adapter receptacle, and in the locked state precisely when and only when the plug adapter is received by the adapter receptacle.

[0029] According to a further development of the invention, the charging station, in particular the control device, is configured to move a plug locking mechanism of a plug adapter from a locked position to a released position when the adapter receptacle is in the locked state. Using the plug locking mechanism, the plug adapter can advantageously be locked to the charging plug of the charging station, so that it remains firmly connected to the charging station and cannot be removed, even in this situation.

[0030] In one embodiment, the control device is configured to unlock the adapter receptacle only when the plug adapter's locking mechanism is in its locked position. A user must first insert the charging plug into the adapter, which moves the locking mechanism into the locked position and thus locks it, before the adapter is released from the receptacle and can be removed. The adapter is then firmly connected to the charging plug and, in particular, locked to it. Only when the adapter is again received by the receptacle, and the receptacle is in its locked position, is the locking mechanism returned to its release position, and the charging plug can be removed from the adapter. In this case, however, the adapter is once again firmly connected to the receptacle.Therefore, in this design, there is no state in which the plug adapter is not permanently attached to the charging station and could be removed.

[0031] The charging station, in particular the control device, can be configured to move the plug locking mechanism of the plug adapter actively - in particular by a suitable signal or an electrical or electromagnetic pulse - or passively - in particular by a mechanical or magnetic connection - from the locked position to the released position.

[0032] In one embodiment, the plug locking mechanism is designed to automatically move from the release position to the locked position when the charging plug is inserted into the plug adapter, for example by means of a pre-tensioned locking element or the like.

[0033] According to a further development of the invention, the charging station is provided to have a plug adapter, in particular a plug adapter as described below.

[0034] In particular, the plug adapter is received in the adapter receptacle, especially in a locking or locked manner.

[0035] In one embodiment, the charging station has a plurality of plug adapters, in particular a plurality of different plug adapters, each with a different pairing of plug connection types - on the plug side and socket side.

[0036] In one embodiment, each plug adapter is assigned a separate adapter receptacle. The individual adapter receptacles are specifically designed and optionally operatively connected to the control device as previously described in connection with the adapter receptacle. This applies in particular to each of the adapter receptacles. The control device is specifically configured to monitor the current state of the multiple adapter receptacles, and in particular each adapter receptacle.

[0037] A plug adapter not belonging to the invention is also described for use with a charging station according to the invention or a charging station according to one or more of the previously described embodiments, wherein the plug adapter has a socket part and a plug part, wherein the socket part is configured to interact with the charging plug of the charging station, and wherein the plug part is configured to interact with a charging socket of an electrical device to be charged.

[0038] In one example, the socket part has a plug locking mechanism designed to lock the charging station's charging plug to the plug adapter in a locked position when the charging plug is inserted into the socket part, and to release the charging plug in a released position. The plug locking mechanism is specifically designed and functions as described above in connection with the charging station.

[0039] The plug locking mechanism automatically moves from the release position to the locked position when the charging plug is inserted into the plug adapter. Alternatively or additionally, the charging station, particularly its control unit, actively or passively moves the plug locking mechanism from the locked position to the release position.

[0040] The socket part may be provided for to have a connector type selected from a group consisting of: CCS1, CCS2, Type 1 or J1772, GB / T, Type 2 or Mennekes, CHAdeMO, and NACS; wherein the plug part has a different connector type selected from the same group consisting of: CCS1, CCS2, Type 1 or J1772, GB / T, Type 2 or Mennekes, CHAdeMO, and NACS.

[0041] In one example, the socket has a CCS1 connector type and the plug has a NACS connector type. In another example, the socket has a NACS connector type and the plug has a CCS1 connector type. In yet another example, the socket has a CCS2 connector type and the plug has a NACS connector type. In yet another example, the socket has a NACS connector type and the plug has a CCS2 connector type. Further examples show that all conceivable combinations of existing or future connector types are possible.

[0042] The problem is also solved by creating a method for operating a charging station, in particular for charging an electrical device at the charging station, whereby the instantaneous state of an adapter holder is monitored. In connection with this method, the advantages that have already been explained in connection with the charging station become particularly apparent.

[0043] In particular, the method involves operating a charging station according to the invention or a charging station according to one or more of the embodiments described above.

[0044] According to the invention, the method comprises the following steps: a) Initializing and / or identifying a charging process; optionally b) Checking whether a plug adapter request exists; optionally c) Charging the electrical device to be charged; d) Checking whether the adapter receptacle is locked; and e) Completing the charging process when the adapter receptacle is locked.

[0045] A plug adapter requirement can arise, in particular, when the charging plug is inserted into the plug adapter. Advantageously, the charging station has a suitable testing mechanism to determine this. Thus, in one embodiment, step b) checks whether the charging plug is inserted into the plug adapter.

[0046] In particular, the adapter receptacle is unlocked – that is, placed in its unlocked state – in step b1) after step b) and before step c) or d) when a plug adapter request is received.

[0047] Optionally, the plug adapter is removed - in step b2) after step b1) and before step c) or d).

[0048] Optionally, in step d0) before step d), particularly after step c), the plug adapter is positioned in the area of ​​the adapter receptacle, especially in or on the adapter receptacle. Furthermore, optionally – in step d01) after step d0) and before step d) – the adapter receptacle is moved into the locking position.

[0049] In a manner not belonging to the invention, it may be provided that the charging process - in step f) - is not completed if the adapter mount is not locked.

[0050] According to the invention, the charging process is completed by recording a note in a data record associated with the charging process if the adapter holder is not locked.

[0051] In one embodiment, the method uses a plug adapter as described above.

[0052] Optionally, the plug adapter is locked to the charging plug in step b0) before step d), in particular before step c), in particular before step b1) by moving the plug lock into the locking position.

[0053] Optionally, in step d1) before step e), and especially after step d), the plug adapter releases the charging plug by moving the plug lock to the release position if it is determined in step d) that the adapter receptacle is locked.

[0054] The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an exemplary embodiment of a charging station with a plug adapter, and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an embodiment of a method for charging an electrical device at the charging station.

[0055] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a charging station 1 with a plug adapter 3.

[0056] The charging station 1, which is specifically designed for charging the drive energy storage system of an electric vehicle, has at least one charging point 5 with a charging plug 7 for electrical connection to an electrical device to be charged – in particular, the electric vehicle. Furthermore, the charging station 1 has at least one adapter receptacle 9, which is designed to receive the plug adapter 3, which is designed for use with the charging plug 7. The adapter receptacle 9 is designed to alternately assume a plurality of states, specifically to secure the plug adapter 3 against unauthorized removal in a locked state among the plurality of states, and to release the plug adapter 7 for removal in an unlocked state among the plurality of states.The charging station 1 also has a control device 11 which is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle 9 and is set up to monitor a current state of the adapter receptacle 9.

[0057] The charging station 1 can have a plurality of charging points 5 and / or a plurality of adapter receptacles 9.

[0058] In particular, the charging station 1 has at least one plug adapter 3, in particular one plug adapter 3 per adapter receptacle 9, preferably at least one adapter receptacle 9 with a plug adapter 3 per charging point 5.

[0059] The plug adapter 3 has a socket part 13 and a plug part 15. The socket part 13 is configured to interact with the charging plug 7. The plug part 15 is configured to interact with a charging socket of the electrical device to be charged, in particular the electric vehicle.

[0060] Preferably, the socket part 13 has a plug locking mechanism 17 which is configured to lock the charging plug 7 to the plug adapter 3 in a locking position when the charging plug 7 is inserted into the socket part 13, and to release the charging plug 7 in a release position.

[0061] The adapter receptacle 9 preferably has a locking device 19. In particular, the control device 11 is operatively connected to the locking device 19.

[0062] Preferably, the charging station 1 also has rain or moisture protection for the plug adapter 3 arranged in the adapter receptacle 9, in particular a rain cover 20 over the adapter receptacle 9.

[0063] Preferably, the socket part 13 has a connector type selected from a group consisting of: CCS1, CCS2, Type 1 or J1772, GB / T, Type 2 or Mennekes, CHAdeMO, and NACS. The plug part 15 has a different connector type selected from the same group.

[0064] The control device 11 is preferably configured to control charging processes of the charging station 1, and to complete an active charging process only if the adapter receptacle 9 is in the locked state, or to complete the active charging process by recording the unlock state in a data record assigned to the active charging process if the adapter receptacle 9 is not in the locked state.

[0065] The control device 11 is also preferably configured to put the adapter receptacle 9 into the unlocked state, in particular only after initialization - especially identification - of a charging process.

[0066] Furthermore, the control device 11 is preferably configured to uniquely identify a charging process of the charging station 1, in particular a user, and to assign a removal process of the removal of the plug adapter 3 to an identified charging process when the adapter receptacle 9 is set to the unlocked state after the identification of the charging process.

[0067] The adapter receptacle 9 is preferably configured to determine whether the plug adapter 3 is received by the adapter receptacle 9, and to move from the unlocked state to the locked state only when the plug adapter 3 is received by the adapter receptacle 9.

[0068] The charging station 1, in particular the control device 11, is preferably configured to move the plug locking mechanism 17 of the plug adapter 3 from the locked position to the release position when the adapter receptacle 9 is in the locked state.

[0069] Fig. Figure 2 shows a schematic representation of an embodiment of a method for charging an electrical device at the charging station 1.

[0070] Identical and functionally equivalent elements are provided with the same reference symbols in all figures, so that reference is made to the preceding description in each case.

[0071] In a first step a), a charging process is initialized and identified. In a second step b), it is checked whether a plug adapter request exists, preferably by checking whether the charging plug 7 is inserted into the plug adapter 3.

[0072] In a third step b1), the adapter receptacle 9 is unlocked if a plug adapter request exists, in particular if the charging plug 7 is inserted into the plug adapter 3. Otherwise, in a fourth step b1'), the adapter receptacle 9 remains locked.

[0073] If the adapter receptacle 9 is unlocked, in a fifth step b2) the plug adapter 3 is removed, and in a sixth step c) the electrical device to be charged is charged. Otherwise - without a plug adapter requirement - the electrical device to be charged is charged in step c) without the plug adapter 3.

[0074] If the plug adapter 3 is used, in a sixth step d0) - after charging - it is again positioned in the area of ​​the adapter receptacle 9, and in a seventh step d01) the adapter receptacle 9 is returned to the locking state.

[0075] In an eighth step d), it is checked whether the adapter receptacle 9 is locked, and in a ninth step e), the charging process is completed if the adapter receptacle 9 is locked. Alternatively, in a tenth step f), the charging process is not completed if the adapter receptacle 9 is not locked, or the charging process is completed in the tenth step f) with a note being recorded in a data record associated with the charging process if the adapter receptacle 9 is not locked. Optionally, in the tenth step f), additional measures are automatically taken or initiated by the control device 11, possibly via a backend or a cloud, such as sending information to the police or another authority, automatically filing a report, or invoicing a penalty fee or the cost of the plug adapter 3.

[0076] Optionally, the plug adapter 3 is locked onto the charging plug 7 before step b1) by moving the plug lock 17 into the locked position. Only then is the adapter receptacle 9 unlocked.

[0077] Optionally, the plug adapter 3 releases the charging plug 7 after step d) by moving the plug lock 17 into the release position if it is determined in step d) that the adapter receptacle 9 is locked.

Claims

[1] Charging station (1), in particular for electric vehicles, comprising at least one charging point (5) having a charging plug (7) for electrical connection with an electrical device to be charged, and comprising at least one adapter receptacle (9) configured to receive a plug adapter (3) configured for use with the charging plug (7), wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to alternately assume a plurality of states, wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to hold the plug adapter (3) secured against unauthorized removal in a locking state of the plurality of states and to release the plug adapter (3) for removal in an unlocking state of the plurality of states, wherein the charging station (1) also comprises a control device (11) which is operatively connected to the adapter receptacle (9) and configured to monitor an instantaneous state of the adapter receptacle (9), characterized by, that the control device (11) is set up to control charging operations of the charging station (1) and to complete an active charging operation by recording the unlocking state in a data record associated with the active charging operation when the adapter receptacle (9) is not in the locked state. [2] Charging station (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control device (11) is configured to put the adapter receptacle (9) into the unlocked state. [3] Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (11) is configured to uniquely identify a charging process of the charging station (1) and to assign a removal process of the removal of the plug adapter (3) to an identified charging process when the adapter receptacle (9) is placed in the unlocked state after the identification of the charging process. [4] Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the adapter receptacle (9) is configured to determine whether the plug adapter (3) is received by the adapter receptacle (9) and to move from the unlocked state to the locked state only when the plug adapter (3) is received by the adapter receptacle (9). [5] Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging station (1) is configured to move a plug locking mechanism of a plug adapter (3) from a locked position to a released position when the adapter receptacle (9) is in the locked state. [6] Charging station (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the charging station (1) has a plug adapter (3). [7] Method for operating a charging station (1), in particular for electric vehicles, wherein an instantaneous state of an adapter receptacle (9) is monitored, wherein the following steps are carried out: - Initializing and / or identifying a charging process; - Check that the adapter mount (9) is locked, and - Completion of the charging process when the adapter receptacle (9) is locked, whereby the charging process is completed by recording a note in a data record associated with the charging process when the adapter receptacle (9) is not locked. [8] Method according to claim 7, wherein an electrical device is charged after initializing and / or identifying the charging process and before checking whether the adapter receptacle (9) is locked.

Images