Vehicle supply equipment apparatus and method

Abstract

An electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having a charging cable 206 with customisable winding speed comprises a charging gun 202 connected to the EVSE by the charging cable and a winding element c

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to electric vehicle supply equipment. Aspects of the invention relate to a control system for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment, to an electric vehicle supply equipment, to a computer-implemented method for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment and to computer readable instructions. BACKGROUND It is known to provide an electric vehicle supply equipment at a home address, and a vehicle can be connected to the supply equipment and receive charge therefrom to charge an energy store of the vehicle. It is desirable to be able to intelligently control features of the supply equipment. It is an aim of the present invention to address one or more of the disadvantages associated with the prior art. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Aspects and embodiments of the invention provide a control system, an electronic vehicle supply equipment, a computer-implemented method, and computer-readable instructions as claimed in the appended claims. An example provides a control system for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment, the electric vehicle supply equipment comprising a charging gun connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment by a charging cable and a winding element configured to wind the charging cable; the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to: receive, as input, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element; and in dependence on the winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting. This may provide improved control, and so may reduce inconvenience forthe user, and / or may reduce damage to the electric vehicle supply equipment. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electric vehicle supply equipment having a charging cable with customisable winding speed, the electric vehicle supply equipment comprising a charging gun connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment by the charging cable and a winding element configured to wind the charging cable; the control system comprising one or more processors collectively configured to: receive, as input, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element; and in dependence on the winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting. This may provide improved control, and so may reduce inconvenience forthe user, and / or may reduce damage to the electric vehicle supply equipment. The winding speed setting may indicate winding speed at which the winding element is to operate during winding of the charging cable. In some embodiments, a control system of the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to: receive, as input, a winding event signal indicative of a charging cable winding event; and in response to receipt of the winding event signal, cause the winding element to operate at the winding speed. Accordingly, when a winding event is initiated, the winding may be performed at the indicated winding speed. In some embodiments, the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to cause at least one of: retraction of the charging cable at the winding speed setting (e.g. in response to a winding event signal indicating retraction of the charging cable), or extension of the charging cable at the winding speed setting (e.g. in response to a winding event signal indicating extension of the charging cable). Accordingly, extension or retraction of the charging cable may be performed at the indicated winding speed. In some embodiments, the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to cause retraction of the charging cable at the winding speed setting (e.g. in response to a winding event signal indicating retraction of the charging cable), and the control system is configured to cause extension of the charging cable at the winding speed setting (e.g. in response to a winding event signal indicating extension of the charging cable). Accordingly, the retraction winding speed and the extension winding speed may be set in a straightforward manner. In some embodiments: the winding speed signal is a retraction winding speed signal, the winding speed setting is a retraction winding speed setting, and setting the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting includes, in dependence on the retraction winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the retraction winding speed setting during retraction of the charging cable, and the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to: receive, as input, an extension winding speed signal indicative of an extension winding speed setting of the winding element; and in dependence on the extension winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the extension winding speed setting during extension of the charging cable. Accordingly, the retraction winding speed and the extension winding speed may be set separately (e.g., independently). As such, in embodiments the retraction winding speed and the extension winding speed may be the same or different. In some embodiments the charging cable winding event is extension of the charging cable, and wherein the winding event signal is indicative of one or more of: release of the charging gun from the electric vehicle supply equipment; opening of a charging gun hatch of the electric vehicle supply equipment; an extension request signal transmitted in response to an extension user input made to an input element of the electric vehicle supply equipment; an extension request signal transmitted in response to an extension user input made to an input element of the charging gun; and an extension request signal transmitted by an external electronic device. Accordingly, extension of the charging cable may be suitably initiated. In some embodiments, the charging cable winding event is retraction of the charging cable, and wherein the winding event signal is indicative of one or more of: release of the charging gun from a vehicle; a retraction request signal transmitted in response to a retraction user input made to an input element of the electric vehicle supply equipment; a retraction request signal transmitted in response to a retraction user input made to an input element of the charging gun; and a retraction request signal transmitted by an external electronic device. Accordingly, retraction of the charging cable may be suitably initiated. In some embodiments, the winding speed setting is selected from one of a plurality of predetermined winding speed settings. Accordingly, the winding speed may be set in a straightforward manner. In some embodiments the predetermined winding speed settings include a plurality of discreet speed settings. The plurality of discreet speed settings may include three discreet speed settings (e.g., low, medium and high). Accordingly, the winding speed may be set in a straightforward manner. In some examples, there may be fewer or more than three winding speed settings. The winding speed settings may be discrete speed settings. For example, the predetermined winding speed settings may include low and high. In some examples, the winding speed setting may include a low speed, a medium speed, and a high speed, in addition to one or more other speeds (e.g. between low speed and medium speed, or between medium speed and high speed). It is to be understood that high, medium, and low speeds are relative. That is, the high speed is faster than the medium speed, which is faster than the low speed. In some examples, the winding speed may be set in predetermined increments / decrements, such as increments / decrements of 10% of an upper limit of the winding speed. In some examples the winding speed may be set continuously within a predetermined range of winding speeds. Accordingly, the winding speed may be set appropriately for the requirements of a particular implementation. Where a retraction winding speed setting and an extension winding speed setting are used, each may be selected from the predetermined winding speed settings. In some embodiments, the retraction winding speed setting may be selected from a first plurality of winding speed settings and the extension winding speed setting may be selected from a second plurality of winding speed settings. In some examples, the second plurality of winding speed settings may be different from the first plurality of winding speed settings. For example, it may be acceptable to extend the cable more quickly than it is retracted, and so the second plurality of winding speed settings may include low, medium and high values that are faster than respective low, medium and high values in the first plurality of winding speed settings. Similarly, the first plurality of winding speed settings may include more winding speed settings than the second plurality of winding speed settings in order to provide more granular control of the winding speed during retraction, compared with extension. Accordingly, the retraction winding speed and extension winding speed may be selected conveniently from a selection of appropriate winding speeds. In some examples, the winding speed setting set to cause retraction of the charging cable is a first winding speed setting, and the winding speed setting set to cause extension of the charging cable is a second winding speed setting. Accordingly, the winding speed for retraction and the winding speed for extension may be set to be different, improving flexibility. The first winding speed setting may be a retraction speed setting, and the second winding speed setting may be an extension winding speed setting. In some examples, the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to: retrieve historical user winding data indicative of user winding of the charging cable; and set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting further in dependence on the historical user winding data. Accordingly, the electric vehicle supply equipment may, for example, adapt the winding speed to a use history, improving user convenience. This may address the problem of automatically setting an appropriate winding speed. In some embodiments, the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to: receive, as input, user identifier data indicative of a particular user interacting with the electric vehicle supply equipment; and set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting further in dependence on the user identifier data. Accordingly, the electric vehicle supply equipment may operate appropriately for different users, improving user experience. In some embodiments, the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to receive the winding speed signal over a wireless connection. Accordingly, providing input to the electric vehicle supply equipment and / or installing the electric vehicle supply equipment may be achieved conveniently, without use of a wired connection to indicate the winding speed. According to some examples, a control system for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment having a charging cable with customisable winding speed comprises one or more controllers collectively comprising at least one electronic processor having an electrical input for receiving an input signal; and at least one memory device electrically coupled to the at least one electronic processor and having instructions stored therein; and wherein the electric vehicle supply equipment is to comprise a charging gun connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment by the charging cable and a winding element configured to wind the charging cable, and the at least one electronic processor is configured to access the at least one memory device and execute the instructions thereon so as to: receive, as input, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element; and in dependence on the winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting. In some embodiments, one or more of the charging gun and the electronic vehicle supply equipment comprises an input element configured to receive a winding user input. Accordingly, the winding user input may be conveniently supplied by the user, since the user may typically be holding the charging gun when the winding user input is to be supplied. According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment having a charging cable with customisable winding speed, the electric vehicle supply equipment comprising a charging gun connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment by the charging cable and a winding element configured to wind the charging cable; the method comprising: receiving by a control system of the electric vehicle supply equipment, as input, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element; in dependence on the winding speed signal, setting the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting; receiving by the control system, as input, a winding event signal indicative of a charging cable winding event; and in response to receipt of the winding event signal, causing the winding element to operate at the winding speed. Accordingly, control may be improved, and so may reduce inconvenience for the user, or may reduce damage to the electric vehicle supply equipment. When a winding event is initiated, the winding may be performed at the indicated winding speed. Within the scope of this application it is expressly intended that the various aspects, embodiments, examples and alternatives set out in the preceding paragraphs, in the claims and / or in the following description and drawings, and in particular the individual features thereof, may be taken independently or in any combination. That is, all embodiments and / or features of any embodiment can be combined in any way and / or combination, unless such features are incompatible. The applicant reserves the right to change any originally filed claim or file any new claim accordingly, including the right to amend any originally filed claim to depend from and / or incorporate any feature of any other claim although not originally claimed in that manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS One or more embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows electric vehicle supply equipment according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 2 shows a control system according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 3 shows a flow chart showing a method which control systems disclosed herein are configured to perform for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment according to embodiments of the invention; Figure 4 shows schematically an example charging gun according to embodiments of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION It is known to provide an electric vehicle supply equipment at a home address, and a vehicle can be connected to the supply equipment and receive charge therefrom to charge an energy store of the vehicle. Discussion herein of supply of electrical charge to the vehicle should be understood as a supply of electrical charge of an energy storage means of the vehicle e.g. a rechargeable battery. An electric vehicle supply equipment (or simply supply equipment) may be understood to be a “charger” or “home charger”, i.e. an apparatus which can be connected to a vehicle (and the electrical energy storage of that vehicle) for the provision of charge from the supply equipment to the vehicle, to recharge the electrical energy storage. The vehicle may be a battery electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, for example. The charging gun is connected by a charging cable to the body of supply equipment. A charging cable and charging gun are for transferring electricity to the traction battery. The charging cable of the electric vehicle supply equipment has significant length, such that the charging cable may be used with electric vehicles of varying configurations, shapes, and sizes and / or extend around obstacles. The charging cable may be stowed in the electric vehicle supply equipment (e.g., in the body) when not in use. The charging cable may be extended, and may be automatically retracted in some circumstances to assist in tidying the charging cable away in the electric vehicle supply equipment (e.g., in the body). The supply equipment may be configured to automatically retract (wind in) the charging cable to stow it away. The supply equipment may be configured to automatically extend (wind out) the charging cable to allow the charging gun to be taken away from the supply equipment, for example for connection to a vehicle to charge the energy store of the vehicle. Throughout this disclosure, both extension and retraction of the charging cable may be referred to as a winding of the charging cable. There is a problem in the art that the cable retraction speed may not be suitable. For example, if a user releases the charging gun from a vehicle and the cable retracts automatically more quickly than the user expects, can manage, or would prefer, then the charging gun may pull on the user’s hand or slip out of their hand and drag 6 along the ground to be stowed. This can be unpleasant, may be uncomfortable for the user, or may cause dents or scratches to be marked on the charging gun, which is undesirable. As another example, if the user releases the charging gun from a vehicle and the cable retracts automatically more slowly than the user expects, or would prefer, then the user may impatiently try and force the cable back into the supply equipment more quickly, potentially damaging it, or the user may release the charging gun and allow it to drag along the ground to be slowly retracted into the supply equipment, which may cause dents and scratches to be left on the charging gun. As another example, if the user removes the charging gun from the supply equipment to take it to a vehicle, and the extension speed of the charging cable is slower than the user expects or would prefer, the user may manually pull the cable out from the supply equipment to more quickly take the charging gun over to the vehicle, potentially damaging the charging cable. Examples disclosed herein provide improved supply equipment. Examples disclosed herein aim to overcome problems in the art by allowing for customisation of the winding speed of the charging cable. This may be set by a user, for example through input to an app on an electronic device in communication with the supply equipment. As another example, the winding speed may be set by a user making an input to the supply equipment (e.g., via a user interface at the body of the supply equipment) to set the winding speed of the charging cable. As another example, the winding speed may be set by a user making an input to an input element located on the charging gun. In some examples, the supply equipment may determine, from prior use, a suitable winding speed for the charging cable and set the winding speed to that determined speed. Figure 1 shows electric vehicle supply equipment 200 according to embodiments of the invention. The electric vehicle supply equipment 200 comprises a control system 100 as discussed in relation to Figure 2. The electric vehicle supply equipment 200 comprises a charging gun 202 which can be connected to an electric vehicle and used to provide electrical charge from the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 to the vehicle (i.e. to a rechargeable energy store of the vehicle). In some examples the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 may comprise an output device 204 such as a display screen or visual indicator to indicate information to a user. In some examples the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 may comprise an input device (not shown) to allow for a user input (e.g. a winding user input) to be made to the supply equipment 200. In some examples the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 may comprise a body. The charging gun 202 is connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 by a retractable charging cable (not shown). The electric vehicle supply equipment 200 may allow for the charging cable to be extended and retracted so that the charging gun 202 can be brought over to a vehicle and connected to the vehicle to charge its energy store (thereby extending the charging cable) and so the charging gun 202 can be returned to the supply equipment 200 (e.g., to a body of the supply equipment) when no longer needed (thereby retracting the charging cable). Examples disclosed herein aim to more intelligently control the extension and retraction of the charging cable, in particular to suit the capabilities and behaviour of the user. Figure 1 illustrates an electronic vehicle supply equipment 200 comprising: a charging gun 202 (shown in more detail in Figure 4); a charging cable 206 (see Figure 4) connecting the charging gun 202 to the electronic vehicle supply equipment 200; a winding element (not shown) configured to wind (extend and / or retract) the charging cable 206; and the control system 100 as disclosed herein. The winding element (or winding mechanism) is configured to provide for extension of the charging cable 206 so the charging gun 202 can be moved away from the supply equipment 200 (e.g., the body), and retraction of the charging cable 206 so the charging gun 202 is brought back to the supply equipment 200 (e.g., the body), for example to be stowed away after use. The winding element may include a motor, and may also include one or more of a cable support member, a drive belt, and a gear. The motor may be an electric motor, such as an inductive (or asynchronous) motor, a synchronous motor, etc. The motor may drive a cable support member directly or indirectly. An indirectly driven cable support member may have one or more motion transmitting elements, such as a drive belt or gear, between the motor and the cable support member to transmit motion from the motor to the cable support member. The cable may be wound around the support member when the cable is retracted. The cable support member may include a drum, for example. The electric vehicle supply equipment 200 may include a body (not shown). The body may include a housing (not shown) for enclosing components of the electric vehicle supply equipment 200. The housing may store the cable when it is retracted. Elements of the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 such as the control system 100 and winding element may be provided at or in the body. The charging gun 202 may be removably stored at or in the body. Figure 2 shows a control system 100 according to embodiments of the invention which is for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment 200. The control system 100 as illustrated in Figure 2 comprises one controller 110, although it will be appreciated that this is merely illustrative. The controller 110 comprises processing means 120 and memory means 130. The processing means 120 may be one or more electronic processing device 120 which operably executes computer-readable instructions. The memory means 130 may be one or more memory device 130. The memory means 130 is electrically coupled to the processing means 120. The memory means 130 is configured to store instructions, and the processing means 120 is configured to access the memory means 130 and execute the instructions stored thereon. The controller 110 comprises an input means 140 and an output means 150. The input means 140 may comprise an electrical input 140 of the controller 110. The output means 150 may comprise an electrical output 150 of the controller 110. The control system 100 is for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment 200. The electric vehicle supply equipment 200 comprises a charging gun 202 connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 by a charging cable. The electric vehicle supply equipment 200 comprises a winding element configured to wind (i.e. extend and / or retract) the charging cable. It will be appreciated that the charging gun 202 being connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 means the charging gun 202 is connected by the charging cable to the body of the supply equipment 200. The control system 100 comprises one or more processors 120 collectively configured to receive, as input 165, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element; and in dependence on the winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting (e.g. by outputting 155 a signal to the winding element or a motor thereof). The winding speed signal may be provided in different ways as discussed below, but is an indication of a winding speed which the winding element is to operate at. The winding speed setting may indicate a winding speed at which the winding element is to operate during winding of the charging cable. The control system 100 may be configured to receive, as input 165, a winding event signal indicative of a charging cable winding event; and in response to receipt of the winding event signal, cause the winding element to operate at the winding speed. The charging cable winding event may be one or more of extension of the charging cable and retraction of the charging cable. That is, the control system 100 may control the winding element to operate at a suitable winding speed in response to an indication that the charging cable is to be wound. In examples in which the charging cable winding event is extension of the charging cable (so that the charging cable is unwound), the winding event signal may be indicative of one or more of: release of the charging gun from the electric vehicle supply equipment (e.g., from the body); opening of a charging gun hatch of the electric vehicle supply equipment; an extension request signal transmitted in response to an extension user input made to an input element of the electric vehicle supply equipment; an extension request signal transmitted in response to an extension user input made to an input element of the charging gun; and an extension request signal transmitted by an external electronic device. These are examples of events which are indicative of extension of the charging cable being a following logical action to take. In examples in which the charging cable winding event is retraction of the charging cable (so that the charging cable is wound up, for example for stowing in the supply equipment 200), the winding event signal may be indicative of one or more of: release of the charging gun from a vehicle; a retraction request signal transmitted in response to a retraction user input made to an input element of the electric vehicle supply equipment; a retraction request signal transmitted in response to a retraction user input made to an input element of the charging gun; and a retraction request signal transmitted by an external electronic device. These are examples of events which are indicative of retraction of the charging cable being a following logical action to take. Accordingly, the charging cable may be retracted at the winding speed setting (e.g. in response to a winding event signal indicating retraction of the charging cable). Additionally, or alternatively, the charging cable may be extended at the winding speed setting (e.g. in response to a winding event signal indicating extension of the charging cable). As such, retraction and extension of the charging cable may be at the same winding speed setting. The winding speed setting may be one of a plurality of predetermined winding speed settings. For example, there may be three discreet speed settings (e.g., low, medium, and high winding speeds) available. In other examples there may be more orfewerthan three possible winding speeds available. The winding speed setting set to cause retraction of the charging cable may be a first winding speed setting, and the winding speed setting set to cause extension of the charging cable may be a second winding speed setting. The first and second winding speed settings may not be the same setting. In other words, retraction may be set to take place at a different winding speed than extension. The first winding speed setting may be a retraction speed setting, and the second winding speed setting may be an extension winding speed setting, for example. Where there are fewer than three winding speeds available, the winding speeds may be designated slow and fast, for example. Where there are more than three winding speeds available the winding speed setting may include a lowspeed, a medium speed, and a high speed, in addition to one or more other speeds (e.g. between low speed and medium speed, or between medium speed and high speed). It is to be understood that high, medium, and low speeds are relative. That is, the high speed is faster than the medium speed, which is faster than the low speed. In some examples, the winding speed may be set in predetermined increments / decrements, such as increments / decrements of 10% of an upper limit of the winding speed. In some examples the winding speed may be set continuously within a predetermined range of winding speeds. In some examples a range of winding speeds, or a slowest and fastest winding speed, may be set based on the properties of the electric vehicle supply equipment. For example, an upper limit on the winding speed may be set to prevent or reduce damage to the winding mechanism or other elements of the electric vehicle supply equipment. In some examples, a control system may be arranged to receive a retraction winding speed signal indicative of a retraction winding speed setting of the winding element, and an extension winding speed signal indicative of an extension winding speed setting of the winding element. The winding element may be arranged to, in dependence on the retraction winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the retraction winding speed setting during retraction of the charging cable, and in dependence on the extension winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the extension winding speed setting during extension of the charging cable. Where a retraction winding speed setting and an extension winding speed setting are used, each may be selected from the predetermined winding speed settings. That is, in some examples, the retraction and extension winding speeds are selected from the same set, or range, of winding speeds. In other examples, the retraction winding speed setting may be selected from a first plurality of winding speed settings (or a first winding speed range) and the extension winding speed setting may be selected from a second plurality of winding speed settings (or a second winding speed range). In some examples, the second plurality of winding speed settings (or second range) may be different from the first plurality of winding speed settings (or first range). For example, it may be acceptable to extend the cable more quickly than it is retracted, and so the second plurality of winding speed settings may include low, medium and high values that are faster than respective low, medium and high values in the first plurality of winding speed settings. Similarly, the upper and lower limits of the first speed range may be different from the upper and lower limits of the second speed range, such that, for example, at least one of the upper or lower limit of the second speed range is higher than the corresponding at least one upper or lower limit of the first speed range. The first plurality of winding speed settings may include more winding speed settings than the second set of winding speed settings in order to provide more granular control of the winding speed during retraction, compared with extension. Similarly, the second plurality of winding speed settings may include more winding speed settings than the first set of winding speed settings in order to provide more granular control of the winding speed during extension, compared with retraction. The control system 100 may be configured to: retrieve historical user winding data indicative of user winding of the charging cable; and set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting further in dependence on the historical user winding data. For example, it may be detected that with an extension speed set to medium, historically the user is detected as applying a pulling force on the cable, and so the control system 100 may determine that the extension speed should be increased from medium to high to help prevent the user feeling the need to pull on the cable. As another example, it may be detected that with a retraction speed set to medium, the charging cable is detected as being dropped on the ground, indicative perhaps of the user not being fast enough to carry the charging gun over to the supply equipment with a medium retraction speed. Consequently the control system 100 may determine to adjust the retraction speed from medium to slow to assist the user in being able to carry the charging gun over to the supply equipment during retraction of the charging cable without it slipping from their hands. The user may be elderly or have poor mobility for example. The control system 100 may be configured to receive, as input 165, user identifier data indicative of a particular user interacting with the electric vehicle supply equipment; and set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting further in dependence on the user identifier data. In this way, a personalised winding speed setting may be applied to suit the particular user. The user identifier data may be provided, for example via an identifier transmitted from a user device when the user provides the winding speed signal from a personal device such as a smart phone. The control system 100 may be configured to receive the winding speed signal over a wireless connection. For example, the user may be able to provide input via their smart phone, for example to an app associated with the supply equipment installed on their smart phone, and the winding speed signal may be sent from the app wirelessly to the supply equipment. In some examples, the winding speed signal may be received from a computing device, such as a user’s computer or smart phone, or a computer at a customer service centre. The wireless connection may include one or more of a Bluetooth connection, a WiFi connection, or a cellular network connection (e.g., a 5G connection). In some examples, a wired connection (e.g., Ethernet) may be provided instead of, or in addition to a wireless connection. The connection may be a direct connection with the computing device that receives the input to set the winding speed. In some examples, the connection between the control system 100 and the computing device may be indirect (e.g., via a server or a cloud connection). Figure 3 shows a flow chart showing a computer-implemented method 300 which control systems 100 disclosed herein are configured to perform for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment 200. The method 300 may be performed by one or more processors executing computer-readable instructions. The method is for controlling an electric vehicle supply equipment 200, the electric vehicle supply equipment comprising a charging gun 202 connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment 200 by a charging cable 206 and a winding element configured to wind the charging cable. The method 300 comprises receiving 302, as input, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element; and in dependence on the winding speed signal, setting 304 the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting. The method may comprise receiving 306, as input, a winding event signal indicative of a charging cable winding event; and in response to receipt of the winding event signal, causing 306 the winding element to operate at the winding speed. Figure 4 shows schematically a charging gun 202 with connected charging cable 206 which may be retracted and / or extended according to examples disclosed herein. The charging gun 202 may in some examples comprise an input element 402 by which a user may be able to make a user input indicative of a winding speed setting which the user wants to set. The user input element 402 may be, for example, a button, slider, toggle switch, touchscreen, or other input element. A user input element may additionally or alternatively be available at the supply equipment 200 (e.g., at a body of the supply equipment), configured for the same purpose. It will be appreciated that various changes and modifications can be made to the present invention without departing from the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. An electric vehicle supply equipment having a charging cable with customisable winding speed, the electric vehicle supply equipment comprising a charging gun connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment by the charging cable and a winding element configured to wind the charging cable; the electric vehicle supply equipment comprising one or more processors collectively configured to:receive, as input, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element; andin dependence on the winding speed signal, set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting.

2. The electric vehicle supply equipment of claim 1, wherein a control system of the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to:receive, as input, a winding event signal indicative of a charging cable winding event; andin response to receipt of the winding event signal, cause the winding element to operate at the winding speed.

3. The electric vehicle supply equipment of claim 2, wherein the charging cable winding event is extension of the charging cable, and wherein the winding event signal is indicative of one or more of:release of the charging gun from the electric vehicle supply equipment;opening of a charging gun hatch of the electric vehicle supply equipment;an extension request signal transmitted in response to an extension user input made to an input element of the electric vehicle supply equipment;an extension request signal transmitted in response to an extension user input made to an input element of the charging gun; andan extension request signal transmitted by an external electronic device.

4. The electric vehicle supply equipment of claim 2, wherein the charging cable winding event is retraction of the charging cable, and wherein the winding event signal is indicative of one or more of:release of the charging gun from a vehicle;a retraction request signal transmitted in response to a retraction user input made to an input element of the electric vehicle supply equipment;a retraction request signal transmitted in response to a retraction user input made to an input element of the charging gun; anda retraction request signal transmitted by an external electronic device.

5. The electric vehicle supply equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the winding speed setting is selected from one of a plurality of predetermined winding speed settings.

6. The electric vehicle supply equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the predetermined winding speed settings include three discreet speed settings.

7. The electric vehicle supply equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the winding speed setting set to cause retraction of the charging cable is a first winding speed setting, and the winding speed setting set to cause extension of the charging cable is a second winding speed setting.

8. The electric vehicle supply equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to:retrieve historical user winding data indicative of user winding of the charging cable;set the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting further in dependence on the historical user winding data.

9. The electric vehicle supply equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to:receive, as input, user identifier data indicative of a particular user interacting with the electric vehicle supply equipment; andset the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting further in dependence on the user identifier data.

10. The electric vehicle supply equipment of any preceding claim, wherein the electric vehicle supply equipment is configured to receive the winding speed signal over a wireless connection.

11. The electronic vehicle supply equipment of any preceding claim, wherein one or more of the charging gun and the electronic vehicle supply equipment comprises an input element configured to receive a winding user input.

12. A method for operating an electric vehicle supply equipment having a charging cable with customisable winding speed, the electric vehicle supply equipment comprising a charging gun connected to the electric vehicle supply equipment by the charging cable and a winding element configured to wind the charging cable; the method comprising:receiving by a control system of the electric vehicle supply equipment, as input, a winding speed signal indicative of a winding speed setting of the winding element;in dependence on the winding speed signal, setting the winding element to operate at the winding speed setting.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising:receiving, as input, a winding event signal indicative of a charging cable winding event; andin response to receipt of the winding event signal, causing the winding element to operate at the winding speed.s

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