Hands free charging system with power loss detection and management

A hands-free charging system comprising:

• a power source;
• a charging unit electrically connected to the power source and including an energy-storage device and a robotic coupler connectable to a charge port of a vehicle, wherein the charging unit is configured to charge the vehicle with the power source, and the energy-storage device is configured to independently power the robotic coupler irrespective of an energization state of the power source;
• an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) connected to the charging unit by a cable, the EVSE including a switching arrangement configured to electrically connect the charging unit to the power source when closed and to electrically disconnect the charging unit from the power source when open;
• and
• a controller programmed to:
• in response to the power source becoming de-energized during a vehicle charging session, open the switching arrangement and retract the robotic coupler from the charge port using power from the energy-storage device, and
• in response to the power source becoming re-energized following the robotic coupler being retracted, couple the robotic coupler to the charge port using power from the energy-storage device and subsequently close the switching arrangement.

A hands-free charging system comprising:

• a power source;
• a robotic coupler including a connector configured to couple with a vehicle charge port, the connector including one or more high-voltage terminals configured deliver power from the power source to the vehicle charge port;
• an energy-storage device configured to power the robotic coupler independent of the power source;
• an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) electrically connected to the connector, the EVSE including a switching arrangement configured to electrically connect the one or more high-voltage terminals to the power source when closed and to electrically disconnect the one or more high-voltage terminals from the power source when open;
• a controller programmed to:
• in response the one or more high-voltage terminals becoming de-energized during a vehicle charging session, opening the switching arrangement and subsequently retract the robotic coupler using power from the energy-storage device to decouple the connector from the charge port, and
• in response to the power source becoming re-energized following the robotic coupler being retracted and a charging session being active, couple the robotic coupler to the charge port using power from the energy-storage device and subsequently close the switching arrangement to resume charging.