Energy-efficient charging station

Abstract

Energy-efficient charging station. The invention relates to a charging station (1) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (5), comprising: - a charging socket (15) having at least two power connectors (BP, BN), a pilot line connector (CP), a proximity contact connector (PP) and an earthing connector (PE), - means for controlling a load, comprising at least one device (18) for measuring a resistance value (Rc) between the proximity contact connector (PP) and the earthing connector (PE), and a pulse-width modulation oscillator (21) capable of sending a modulated signal to the pilot line connector (CP), the charging station (1) comprising means for activating the pulse-width modulation oscillator (21), conditioned on the resistance value (Rc). (Figure 1)

Description

Title of the invention: Energy-efficient charging station

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of electricity and more specifically concerns a charging station for an electric or hybrid vehicle, and a method of charging such a vehicle.

[0002] Charging stations for electric or hybrid vehicles include a charging socket or cable, a charging control system for the high-voltage battery of the vehicle being charged, and a connection to an electrical power supply. The charging control system is constantly powered so that it can detect when a vehicle is connected to the charging station, communicate with the vehicle, and initiate the charging of the vehicle's battery.

[0003] The mechanism for charging a vehicle using a charging station is governed in particular by IEC standard 61851-1 (International Electrotechnical Commission), which describes the requirements for electric vehicle charging equipment, defines the safety requirements for such equipment, its performance characteristics, and the test procedures for this equipment. This standard is used worldwide by automotive manufacturers, charging equipment manufacturers, and researchers to ensure the safety and interoperability of electric vehicle charging equipment.

[0004] According to this standard, a charging station and an electric vehicle connected to each other by a charging cable are linked by several electrical connections present in the charging cable, including: - high-voltage electrical connections, which may include one phase and a neutral, or three phases, or two direct current supply lines, - a PE grounding connection, linking a PE grounding connector in the charging station to a PE grounding connector in the vehicle,

[0005] - a CP pilot line connection, linking a CP pilot line connector in the charging station to a so-called pilot line connector CP in the vehicle, and - a so-called proximity contact link PP, connecting a so-called proximity contact connector PP in the charging station to a so-called proximity contact connector PP in the vehicle.

[0006] The charging cable further comprises a charging gun including a resistor assembly between the PP proximity contact and the PE grounding connection, the value of this resistor belonging to a range of values ​​corresponding to a maximum current value that the charging cable can withstand, i.e., the diameter of a cross-section of the cable. This resistance value is read by the charging station between its PP proximity contact connector and its grounding connector. PE grounding, and is used to limit the load current to at least this maximum current value.

[0007] Other criteria are taken into account by the charging station to deliver a charging current or voltage to the vehicle, compatible with the vehicle's limitations, related, for example, to a maximum current that the vehicle's battery can absorb. These charging voltage or current values ​​delivered by the charging station may also vary during the vehicle's charging process, for example, depending on the vehicle's battery's state of charge. To enable this matching between the vehicle's capabilities and the charging station's capabilities, the vehicle and the charging station communicate via a pulse-width modulated signal on the pilot line.

[0008] The charging station therefore includes a pulse-width modulation oscillator, powered by 12V (volts), and always ready to apply a 12V voltage to the pilot line as soon as the charging station detects that a vehicle is connected. This detection uses, for example, the resistance between the proximity contact PP and the grounding PE connection, which is less than 4500Ω (Ohms) when a charging cable is connected to the charging station.

[0009] The pulse-width modulation oscillator consumes only 0.5 W (watts) when no vehicle is connected to the charging station. However, this power consumption, multiplied by the number of charging stations in operation—around 600,000 in Europe and over one million in China—reaches a total consumption on the order of megawatts. This very low consumption therefore has an impact on greenhouse gas emissions, which should be limited, especially since the projected deployment of charging stations could increase this consumption tenfold in the coming years.

[0010] Furthermore, the charging stations retain other functional modules when no vehicle is connected to one of these stations, such as an electronic radio communication board, to communicate with the vehicle once it is connected, or to enable remote maintenance of the charging stations, including updates from a remote server, or the transmission of information from the charging stations to a remote server. These modules can consume up to 5 watts, which further increases the environmental impact of the charging stations when they are not in use.

[0011] There is therefore a need to limit the electrical consumption of charging stations when no vehicle is connected to them.

[0012] The present invention aims to remedy, at least in part, the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a charging station capable of activating its pulse-width modulation oscillator when an electric or hybrid vehicle is connected to the charging station. charging, and a method of charging an electric or hybrid vehicle using such a charging station.

[0013] To this end, the invention proposes a charging station for electric or hybrid vehicles, comprising at least: - a charging socket conforming to the IEC standard, comprising at least two power connectors, a pilot line connector, a proximity contact connector and an earthing connector, - Contactors capable of connecting the power connectors to an electrical power supply network, - means for controlling a load, capable of closing the contactors, the means of control comprising at least one measuring device capable of providing a resistance value between the proximity contact connector and the grounding connector, and a pulse-width modulation oscillator, capable of sending a modulated signal on the pilot line connector, the charging station being characterized in that it comprises means for activating the pulse-width modulation oscillator, the operation of the activation means being conditioned on the resistance value provided by the measuring device.

[0014] The charging station is for example a public charging station or a private charging station of the "Wallbox" type, installed at the home of an individual to charge their electric or hybrid vehicle.

[0015] The power connectors correspond, for example, to: - a phase and a neutral capable of delivering alternating current to the electric or hybrid vehicle, or to - three power supply phases capable of delivering alternating current to the electric or hybrid vehicle, or to

[0016] - two lines capable of delivering a direct current to the electric or hybrid vehicle, one of the lines being connected to a positive terminal of a rectifier present in the charging station, and the other of the lines being connected to a negative terminal of a rectifier present in the charging station.

[0017] The charging station may include a rectifier that converts the alternating current from the mains power supply into direct current. The voltage between the power connectors is high voltage, i.e., at least one hundred volts. In particular, when the power connectors deliver direct current, the voltage across these connectors is, for example, 400V or 800V, thus enabling the charging of a high-voltage battery with a nominal open-circuit voltage lower than these values.

[0018] The charging station also includes a converter to convert the voltage of the power supply network into a low voltage, on the order of 12V, to power the electronic modules of the charging station, such as the control means.

[0019] When the resistance value read by the charging station is infinite, no vehicle is connected. The charging station can therefore assume that a vehicle is connected to its charging socket as soon as the resistance value it reads is below an upper limit of a range of values ​​defined by the standard for evaluating the maximum current supported by a charging cable, namely 2460Ω (Ohms), or as soon as the resistance value it reads is below 4500Ω, the IEC standard considering that above this value, the charging cable is disconnected. Thus, the activation means, for example, condition the activation of the pulse-width modulation oscillator on this threshold value of 4500Ω (Ohms).Of course, a lower threshold value can be chosen, for example between 2460Q and 4500Q, the range of values ​​from 1100Q to 2460Q being the highest range of values ​​to which the charging station can size a cable capacity to receive current.

[0020] Thanks to the invention, the pulse width modulation oscillator only operates when an electric or hybrid vehicle is connected to the charging station, which reduces the consumption of the charging station when no charging is in progress.

[0021] The means for activating the pulse-width modulation oscillator are, for example, part of the measuring device, or more broadly, of the control means, and are powered by the charging station's converter, which converts the mains voltage to a low voltage. The activation means are, of course, also capable of deactivating the pulse-width modulation oscillator, depending, for example, on the resistance value supplied by the measuring device, and in particular on the selected threshold value, for example, between 2460 Q and 4500 Q, or as soon as a vehicle charging cycle is complete, the control means being capable of determining the end of this charging cycle.

[0022] The means for activating the pulse-width modulated oscillator are, for example, capable of electrically connecting the converter output to the pulse-width modulated oscillator. The activation means include, for example, a switch connecting a terminal of a low-voltage source to the pulse-width modulated oscillator. This low-voltage source is, for example, the converter in the charging station, or a low-voltage battery present in the charging station. This switch is separate from a control switch for the pulse-width modulated oscillator, capable of generating voltage pulses of up to 12V.

[0023] According to an optional and advantageous feature of the invention, the charging station further comprises a wireless communication module capable of updating the software of the control means, the activation means being first activation means, the charging station further comprising second activation means, capable of activating the wireless communication module, the operation of the second activation means being conditional upon the resistance value provided by the measuring device. The second activation means are of course also capable of deactivating the wireless communication module based, for example, on the resistance value provided by the measuring device, or as soon as a software update of the vehicle is completed, or as soon as a charging session is completed in the case where the wireless communication module is used to authenticate and bill a user.Furthermore, the communication module may be capable of communicating with a communication module present within the vehicle, for example to program a charge or discharge of the vehicle's high-voltage battery.

[0024] Thus, in the same way that by only activating the pulse width modulation oscillator when an electric or hybrid vehicle is connected to the terminal, the consumption of the charging station is further saved by only activating the wireless communication module when the electric or hybrid vehicle is connected to the terminal.

[0025] According to another optional and advantageous feature of the invention, the charging station according to the invention includes a button for activating the measuring device, the activation button being configured to be engaged by connecting a charging cable to the charging socket.

[0026] This activation button ensures that the measuring device is only activated when an electric or hybrid vehicle is connected to the charging station, further reducing the charging station's power consumption when no charging is in progress. This could be, for example, a push button. This mechanical action of the activation button prevents any low-voltage module of the charging station from remaining powered until a vehicle is connected. Thus, it is configured, for example, to close a circuit connecting a low-voltage source of the charging station to all of its low-voltage modules, and not just the measuring device, when the charging cable is connected.

[0027] In one embodiment of the invention, the pulse-width modulation oscillator activation means are configured to activate the pulse-width modulation oscillator as soon as the resistance value supplied by the measuring device is less than or equal to a predetermined resistance threshold. As explained previously, this predetermined resistance threshold is significant of the presence of a charging cable plugged into the charging socket, and is for example less than or equal to 4500 Q.

[0028] In this embodiment of the invention, the pulse-width modulation oscillator activation means are further configured to deactivate the pulse-width modulation oscillator, for example, as soon as the resistance value supplied by the measuring device is strictly greater than the predetermined resistance threshold, or as soon as a vehicle charging cycle is complete. This embodiment of the invention is simple to implement and is particularly suitable for a public charging station, where a user requires immediate charging of their vehicle.

[0029] In one embodiment of the invention, the charging station further comprises a delayed charging management module and means for inhibiting the second activation means between a power supply phase of the vehicle's on-board network and a time determined by the delayed charging management module. Indeed, during delayed charging, the pulse-width modulation oscillator is activated as soon as the vehicle is plugged in, along with the other modules of the charging station, in order to charge the vehicle for a few minutes after connection, even if it is not within a charging window defined by the delayed charging management module. This implementation, called "ZA" for Zero Ampere, allows for the management of the charging of the vehicle's low-voltage battery or the power supply to certain elements of its on-board network.During these few minutes, the vehicle will consume a few hundred watts, and therefore this requires the charging station to be fully operational.

[0030] However, once this phase of powering the on-board network is completed, the vehicle will "go back to sleep" until the scheduled deferred charging time. During this standby phase, the inhibition means reduce the power consumption of the charging station modules not needed during this standby period, namely the indicator LEDs and the wireless communication module.

[0031] The delayed charging management module is part of the control means and is, for example, capable of being updated by a wireless communication module when the charging station has one.

[0032] This embodiment of the invention is particularly suitable for a home charging station, where a user plugs in their vehicle as soon as they get home, even though the vehicle's charging is scheduled for off-peak hours. This saves the charging station's energy consumption until the vehicle has started charging.

[0033] Furthermore, the charging station may also include a V2G (Vehicle to Grid) charging module, the power supply of this module being can also be activated or deactivated depending on the resistance value provided by the measuring device.

[0034] The invention also relates to a method of charging for electric or hybrid vehicles, using a charging station according to the invention, comprising steps of: - measuring a resistance between the proximity contact connector and the grounding connector, providing a resistance value, - reading the resistance value, and if the resistance value is less than or equal to the predetermined resistance threshold, activating the pulse-width modulation oscillator.

[0035] When the charging station includes a wireless communication module capable of updating the control means' software, the resistance value reading step is followed, if the resistance value is less than or equal to a resistance limit value, by an activation step of the wireless communication module. The resistance limit value is, for example, equal to the predetermined resistance threshold, but not necessarily so. Other modules can be activated simultaneously with the wireless communication module, for example, the charging station's LEDs.

[0036] When the charging station also includes a module for managing a delayed charge, the step of activating the wireless communication module is followed, after a phase of powering the vehicle's on-board network, by a step of deactivating the wireless communication module and then by a step of reactivating the wireless communication module at a time determined by the module for managing a delayed charge.

[0037] Furthermore, when the charging station has a button to activate the measuring device, the measurement step is preceded by: - a step involving connecting a charging cable to the charging port, pressing the activation button, and - a step of activating the measuring device using the activation button.

[0038] The charging method according to the invention naturally includes a step of charging a high-voltage vehicle battery. It also offers advantages similar to those of the charging station according to the invention.

[0039] Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description on the one hand, and from several illustrative and non-limiting examples of embodiments given with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0040] [Fig. 1] represents an electric or hybrid vehicle connected to a charging station according to the invention, in one embodiment of the invention,

[0041] [Fig.2] represents steps of a charging process according to the invention of the electric or hybrid vehicle of [Fig.1], and

[0042] [Fig.3] represents other steps of the charging process according to the invention of the electric or hybrid vehicle of [Fig.2], in the case where the charging of the vehicle is deferred.

[0043] According to an embodiment of the invention shown [Fig.1], a charging station 1 according to the invention comprises a charging socket 15, to which a charging cable 3 is connected by one of the ends of the charging cable 3, the charging cable 3 also being connected by its other end to an electric or hybrid vehicle 5.

[0044] In this embodiment of the invention, the charging station 1, the charging cable 3, and the vehicle 5 conform to IEC 61851-1. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the charging station 1 enables direct current charging and therefore includes a converter 12 capable of converting three-phase alternating current from a power supply network 4 into direct current. More specifically, the converter 12 has two outputs: a first high-voltage direct current output, comprising a first positive terminal 122 and a first negative terminal 124, and a second low-voltage direct current output, comprising a second positive terminal 126 and a second negative terminal 128.

[0045] The voltage between the first positive terminal 122 and the first negative terminal 124 is therefore a high voltage, for example between 100 and 400V depending on the needs of the vehicle 5.

[0046] The voltage between the second positive terminal 126 and the second negative terminal 128 is a low voltage, for example 12V, intended to power the low voltage modules of the charging station 1.

[0047] It should be noted that in other embodiments of the invention, the charging station 1 allows for charging in single-phase or three-phase alternating current and therefore may only include a converter with a single low-voltage output.

[0048] The charging station 1 further includes a first contactor 14, connected by one of its terminals to a power connector BP of the charging socket 15 and by the other of its terminals to the first positive terminal 122 of the converter 12.

[0049] The charging station 1 also includes a second contactor 16, connected by one of its terminals to a power connector BN of the charging socket 15 and by the other of its terminals to the first negative terminal 124 of the converter 12.

[0050] It should be noted that in this application, for simplicity, the connectors linked to each other on the vehicle side and on the charging station side are referenced in the same way, as well as the electrical link that electrically connects them.

[0051] The charging socket 15 of the charging station 1 comprises, in addition to the power connectors BN and BP: - a PE earthing connector, connected via a PE earthing link from the charging cable 3, to a PE earthing connector on the vehicle side 5, - a CP pilot line connector, connected by a CP pilot line link of the charging cable 3, to a CP pilot line connector on the vehicle side 5, - a PP proximity contact connector, connected by a PP proximity contact link of the charging cable 3, to a PP proximity contact connector on the vehicle side 5.

[0052] In accordance with the IEC standard, the charging cable 3 includes a resistor Rc mounted between the proximity contact link PP and the earthing link PE. It also includes a positive power supply line BP connecting the power connector BP of the charging station 1 to a power connector BP on the vehicle side 5, and a negative power supply line BN connecting the power connector BN of the charging station 1 to a power connector BN on the vehicle side 5.

[0053] Vehicle 5 comprises: - a 52 high-voltage battery, - a first load contactor 54, connected by one of its terminals to a positive terminal of the high-voltage battery 52 and by the other of its terminals to the vehicle's power connector BP 5, - a second load contactor 56, connected by one of its terminals to a negative terminal of the high-voltage battery 52 and by the other of its terminals to the vehicle's power connector BN 5, and - control means 50 capable of controlling the load contactors 54, 56 and of communicating with control means 10 of the charging station 1 by being connected to the PE earthing connector and the CP pilot line connector. The control means 10 of the charging station 1 are capable of controlling the first contactor 14 and the second contactor 16 of the charging station 1, and of communicating with the control means 50 of the vehicle 5 by being connected to the PE earthing connector and the CP pilot line connector of the charging station 1.

[0054] Communication between the control means 10 of the charging station 1 and the control means 50 of the vehicle uses, in accordance with the IEC standard, pulse-width modulated signals at various voltage values ​​up to 12V. It should be noted that the vehicle's control means 50 are not described in further detail here as they are not part of the invention.

[0055] The control means 10 of the charging station 1 are powered by the second low-voltage DC output of the converter 12, and include in particular: - a pulse width modulation oscillator 21, capable of enabling communication with vehicle 5;

[0056] - a wireless communication module 29, using for example a communication Wi-Fi (according to the IEEE 802.11 standard) or GSM (according to the English "Global Service for Mobile communication"), or any of the 3GPP technologies (according to the English "Third Generation Partnership Project"); - a first switch 23 suitable for connecting a positive supply terminal of the pulse width modulation oscillator 21 to the second positive terminal 126 of the converter 12, a negative supply terminal of the pulse width modulation oscillator 21 being directly connected to the second negative terminal 128 of the converter 12; - a second switch 17 capable of connecting a positive power supply terminal of the wireless communication module 29 to the second positive terminal 126 of the converter 12, a negative power supply terminal of the wireless communication module 29 being directly connected to the second negative terminal 128 of the converter 12; And

[0057] - control means 20, also connected to the second low-voltage output of converter 12, upstream of the first and second switches 23, 17. The control means 20 include: - a control circuit 25 on the one hand of the contactors 14, 16 of the charging station 1, and on the other hand of the pulse width modulation oscillator 21, the control circuit 25 being capable on the one hand of closing and opening these contactors 14, 16 and on the other hand of sending voltage squares of different amplitudes on the pilot line link CP; - a measuring device 18, for example an ohmmeter, connected on one side to the PE earthing connector of the charging station 1 and on the other side to the PP proximity contact connector of the charging station 1, and capable of providing a value of the resistance Rc, to a reading module 26 of this resistance value; - the reading module 26 of this resistance value; - an activation module 28 comprising first means for activating the first switch 23 and second means for activating the second switch 17; the control means 20 therefore form with the first switch 23 means for activating the pulse-width modulation oscillator 21 and the control means 20 form with the second switch 17 means for activating the wireless communication module 29; - a memory, for example a rewritable read-only memory, storing software 22 containing instructions to implement the charging of a plugged-in vehicle on charging station 1; software 22 is capable of being updated remotely via wireless communication module 29; - a management module 27 for a deferred load, for example downloaded into the software 22 via the wireless communication module 29; - a processor 24, capable of communicating with the control means 25, the reading module 26, the activation module 28, and of reading the software 22 to execute its instructions.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, the charging station 1 includes an activation button 13, here a push button, mechanically connected to a switch 11 capable of connecting the second positive terminal 126 of the converter 12 to the control means 10. The activation button 13 is located on the charging socket 15 of the charging station 1, so as to be pressed by a connection of the charging cable 3, and to electrically connect the second positive terminal 126 of the converter 12 to the control means 10 when such a connection is made.

[0059] In other words, the control means 10, and more specifically the control means 20 of the control means 10, are powered as soon as a cable 3 is connected to the charging station and are not powered when not connected. It is understood that the control means 20 are then capable of powering, independently of this connection, the pulse-width modulation oscillator 21 and the wireless communication module 29, thanks to the activation module 28 and the first and second switches 23, 17.

[0060] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the charging station 1 does not include an activation button 13 or a switch 11, and the control means 20 of the control means 10 are always powered.

[0061] It should be noted that not all the modules and functionalities of the charging station 1 are described in this embodiment of the invention, in particular no pre-charge module is shown or described, for example, as it is not part of the invention.

[0062] In order to better understand the control logic of the charging station 1, a method 100 of charging the vehicle 5 using the charging station 1 is now described in relation to [Fig.2].

[0063] Initially, before the implementation of the charging method 100, no vehicle is connected to the charging station 1, and the switch 11 mechanically connected to the activation button 13, as well as the first and second switches 23, 17, are open.

[0064] A first step 102 of the charging process 100 is connecting the charging cable 3 to the charging socket 15, which activates the activation button 13 and thus closes the switch 11. With the switch 11 closed, the power supply is activated control means 20, the first and second switches 23, 17 remaining open.

[0065] A second step 104 is therefore the activation of the measuring device 18, the power supply of which is provided by the power supply of the control means 20.

[0066] It should be noted that in the variant of the invention in which the charging station 1 does not have an activation button 13, these first two steps are reduced to the connection of the charging cable 3, the control means and therefore the measuring device 18 being constantly powered.

[0067] Returning to the main embodiment of the invention, a third step 106 of the charging method 100 is the measurement, by the measuring device 18, of the resistance Rc between the proximity contact link PP and the grounding link PE. In this third step 106, the measuring device 18 provides a value of the resistance Rc to the reading module 26.

[0068] A fourth step 108 of the charging method 100 is the reading, by the processor 24 via the reading module 26, of the value of the resistance Rc provided by the measuring device 18. In this fourth step 108, if this value is strictly greater than a predetermined resistance threshold (branch N), fixed in this embodiment of the invention at 4500Q, then the first charging method 100 loops back to the third step 106 of measuring the resistance Rc, this situation being able to occur if the activation button 13 is not activated due to the connection of the cable 3, or if the latter is incorrectly connected.

[0069] In this fourth step 108, if on the contrary the value of the resistance Rc supplied by the measuring device 18 is less than or equal to the predetermined resistance threshold (branch Y), then the control means 20 activate in a fifth step 110, the pulse-width modulation oscillator 21 using the activation module 28 to close the first switch 23. In other words, if the value of the resistance Rc is less than or equal to the predetermined resistance threshold, the pulse-width modulation oscillator 21 is powered.

[0070] Furthermore, in the case where the value of the resistance Rc is less than or equal to the predetermined resistance threshold, the control means 20 activate, in a sixth step 112 in parallel with the fifth step 110, the wireless communication module 29, using the activation module 28 to close the second switch 17.

[0071] Thus, the charging station 1 is ready to charge the vehicle 5 and to receive update instructions.

[0072] In the case where the vehicle 5 is immediately recharged, the charging method 100 includes, after the fifth step 110, a charging step (not shown) of the high-voltage battery 52 of the vehicle 5, connected to the charging station 1, using the procedure described in the IEC standard. When this charging step is completed, the The control means 20, for example, open the first switch 23, so as to save the energy consumed by the power supply of the pulse-width modulation oscillator 21, which is no longer needed. When this charging step is complete, the control means 20 also open, for example, the second switch 17, so as to save the energy consumed by the power supply of the wireless communication module 29 when no update is scheduled, or wait for the completion of such an update before opening the second switch 17. Alternatively, the control means 20 only open the first switch 23 and / or the second switch 17 when the measuring device 18 provides the reading module 26 with a resistance value Rc strictly greater than the predetermined resistance threshold.

[0073] Finally, in this embodiment of the invention, as soon as the cable is disconnected, all power supply to the low-voltage modules of the charging station 1 is cut off thanks to the activation button 13 which disengages when this disconnection occurs.

[0074] In the case where the charging of the vehicle 5 is deferred, the sixth step 112 of activation of the wireless communication module 29 is followed (reference A), as shown [Fig.3], by a seventh step 114 which is a phase of supplying the vehicle's on-board network, at "zero ampere", i.e. at an electrical power negligible compared to the electrical power of a charging of the high-voltage battery 52 of the vehicle 5.

[0075] When this seventh step 114, which lasts a few minutes, is completed, the charging process 100 proceeds to an eighth step 116 which is the deactivation of the wireless communication module 29, by the control means 20 which open the second switch 17. These control means 20 are therefore means of inhibiting the means of activating the wireless communication module 29.

[0076] The control means 20 then wait, during a ninth step 118 of the charging process 100, for an instant tO determined by the management module 27 of a delayed charge, this instant tO corresponding to the instant when a charge of the high-voltage battery 52 of the vehicle 5 must be started.

[0077] When time tO occurs (branch Y), the charging process 100 proceeds to a tenth step 120 during which the control means 20 again close the second switch 17, i.e. reactivate the wireless communication module 29. As long as time tO is not reached, the charging process 100 loops back to the ninth step 118 of waiting for time tO.

[0078] The tenth step 120 is of course immediately followed by a charging step (not shown) of the high-voltage battery 52 of the vehicle 5, connected to the charging terminal 1, the charging process 100 then continuing in the same way as in the case where the charging is not deferred.

[0079] Other charging and / or discharging methods are conceivable according to the invention, for example when the software 22 includes a module allowing energy transfer from the high-voltage battery to the electrical supply network 4, the activation of the pulse-width modulation oscillator 21 can be conditioned, in addition to the value of the resistance Rc, on the times determined by the software 22, of charging or discharging the battery 52 of the vehicle 5.

[0080] Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples just described, and many modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, alternatively, the control means 25 are powered downstream of the first switch 23, so that they are only powered at the same time as the pulse-width modulation oscillator 21.

[0081] Furthermore, the characteristics of the different variants of embodiment of the invention envisaged in this application can be combined to carry out the invention, insofar as these variants are not incompatible with each other.

Claims

Demands

1. A charging station (1) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (5), comprising at least: - a charging socket (15) conforming to the IEC standard, comprising at least two power connectors (BP, BN), a pilot line connector (CP), a proximity contact connector (PP), and an earthing connector (PE), - contactors (14, 16) capable of connecting the power connectors (BP, BN) to an electrical power supply network (4), - load control means (10) capable of closing the contactors (14, 16), the control means (10) comprising at least one measuring device (18) capable of providing a resistance value (Rc) between the proximity contact connector (PP) and the earthing connector (PE), and a pulse-width modulated oscillator (21) capable of sending a modulated signal to the pilot line connector (CP), the charging station (1) being characterized in which includes means of activation (20,23) of the pulse-width modulated oscillator (21), the operation of the activation means (20, 23) being conditioned on the resistance value (Rc) supplied by the measuring device (18).

2. Charging station (1) for electric or hybrid vehicle (5) according to claim 1, wherein the activation means (20, 23) comprise a switch (23) connecting a terminal of a low voltage source (12) to the pulse-width modulation oscillator (21).

3. Charging station (1) for electric or hybrid vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, comprising an activation button (13) for the measuring device (18), the activation button (13) being configured to be engaged by connecting a charging cable (3) to the charging socket (15).

4. Charging station (1) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the activation means (20, 23) of the pulse-width modulated oscillator (21) are configured to activate the pulse-width modulated oscillator (21) as soon as the resistance value (Rc) supplied by the measuring device (18) is less than or equal to a predetermined resistance threshold.

5. Charging station (1) for electric or hybrid vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, the charging station (1) further comprising a wireless communication module (29) capable of updating software (22) of the control means (10), the activation means (20, 23) being first activation means, the charging station (1) further comprising second activation means (20, 17) capable of activating the wireless communication module (29), the operation of the second activation means (20, 17) being conditioned on the resistance value (Rc) supplied by the measuring device (18).

6. Charging station (1) for electric vehicle (5) or according to claim 5, the charging station (1) further comprising a delayed charging management module (27), and means for inhibiting the second activation means between a power supply phase of an on-board network of the vehicle (5) and a time determined (tO) by the delayed charging management module (27).

7. A charging method (100) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (5), using a charging station (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, comprising steps of: - measuring (106) a resistance (Rc) between the proximity contact connector (PP) and the grounding connector (PE), providing a resistance value (Rc), - reading (108) the resistance value, and if the resistance value (Rc) is less than or equal to the predetermined resistance threshold, activating (110) the pulse-width modulation oscillator (21).

8. A charging method (100) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (5) according to claim 7, wherein the charging station (1) further comprises a wireless communication module (29) capable of updating software (22) of the control means (10), and wherein the step of reading (108) the resistance value (Rc) is followed, if the resistance value (Rc) is less than or equal to a resistance limit value, by a step of activating (112) the wireless communication module (29).

9. A charging method (100) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (5) according to claim 8, wherein the charging station (1) further includes a delayed load management module (27), and in which the activation step (112) of the wireless communication module (29) is followed, after a power-up phase (114) of the vehicle's on-board network (5), by a deactivation step (116) of the wireless communication module (29) and then by a reactivation step (120) of the wireless communication module (29) at a time determined (tO) by the delayed load management module (27).

10. A charging method (100) for an electric or hybrid vehicle (5) according to any one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the charging station (1) has an activation button (13) for the measuring device (18), and wherein the measuring step (106) is preceded by: - ​​a step of connecting (102) a charging cable (3) to the charging socket (15), engaging the activation button (13), and - a step of activating (104) the measuring device (18) by the activation button (13).

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