EV Charging Port Locking to Prevent Unauthorized Unplugging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric vehicle charging stations face issues with unnecessary citations being issued when a charging port is removed from one vehicle and attached to another, leading to unjust penalties for the owner of the original vehicle.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that determines if an electric vehicle is within a predetermined distance of a charging station and if the charging port is attached, locking the port to prevent unauthorized removal and thus avoiding parking citations by ensuring only authorized users can detach the charging port.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a charging port is made easily removable for portability and flexibility, then ease of operation is improved, but unauthorized removal by other users increases leading to unnecessary citations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting when a charging port is removed and automatically notifying the charging station system before a citation can be issued. The notification is sent in advance, allowing the system to verify whether the removal was authorized before penalizing the vehicle owner.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the charging port status and providing real-time information to both the vehicle owner and charging station operator. When a port is removed, the system provides feedback through notifications that help determine whether the removal was legitimate or unauthorized, preventing false citations.
2Reliability
If charging stations implement citation systems to prevent port theft, then reliability of charging port utilization is improved, but false citations are issued to legitimate users who switch vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The system sends a notification to the charging station system before a citation would be issued. This preliminary action allows the system to verify the legitimacy of the port removal by checking whether the vehicle is still present or if the user has switched vehicles, preventing false citations from being generated.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system acts as an intermediary between the charging port removal event and the citation issuance process. It provides a verification mechanism that mediates between the need to enforce port utilization and the need to avoid penalizing legitimate users who switch vehicles.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the charging port is locked to prevent unauthorized removal, then protection against citation is improved, but ease of operation for authorized users may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service functionality by automatically detecting when a charging port is removed and handling the notification process without requiring manual intervention from the user. This automation maintains ease of operation while providing protection against unauthorized removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical locking mechanisms with an electronic notification and monitoring system. Instead of using physical locks that would require manual operation, the system uses electronic detection and communication to provide protection while maintaining ease of use through automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for locking a charging port to charge an electric vehicle that includes determining that the electric vehicle is located within a predetermined distance of a charging station and determining when the charging port of an electric vehicle supply equipment of the charging station is attached to the electric vehicle to actively charge the electric vehicle. The system and method also include determining if the charging station accesses a parking citation associated with parking of the electric vehicle if the electric vehicle is not attached to the charging port. The system and method additionally include locking the charging port to the electric vehicle to disallow decoupling of the charging port from the electric vehicle by an unauthorized individual to avoid the parking citation.