Charging apparatus for use in an electric vehicle charging system

A method of controlling a charging apparatus for use in an electric vehicle charging system which comprises an AC power source, a DC power source, and a vehicle on-board charger connected to batteries of the electric vehicle, the charging apparatus comprising a charging cable which comprises a plurality of power lines, a first switch and a second switch, each of the first and second switches comprises a plurality of poles corresponding to the plurality of power lines of the charging cable, and a plurality of sets of contacts, the first switch is configured to selectively connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to one of:

• the AC power source, and the DC power source, and the second switch is configured to selectively connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to one of:
• a first set of contacts of the second switch, and a second set of contacts of the second switch, the method comprising:
• determining whether to provide an AC charging operation or a DC charging operation,
• in response to determining that an AC charging operation should be provided, controlling the first switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the AC power source, and the second switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the first set of contacts of the second switch or the second set of contacts of the second switch;
• and
• in response to determining that a DC charging operation should be provided, controlling the first switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the DC power source, and the second switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the second set of contacts of the second switch.

Charging apparatus for use in an electric vehicle charging system which comprises an AC power source, a DC power source, and a vehicle on-board charger connected to batteries of the electric vehicle, the the charging apparatus comprising:

• a first switch;
• a second switch;
• a charging cable comprising a plurality of power lines;
• and
• a control apparatus,
• wherein
• each of the first switch and the second switch comprises a plurality of poles and a plurality of sets of contacts, wherein the plurality of poles corresponds to the plurality of power lines of the charging cable;
• the first switch is configured to move the plurality of poles of the first switch between a first position wherein the plurality of power lines of the charging cable is connected to a first set of contacts of the first switch connected to the AC power source, and a second position wherein the plurality of power lines of the charging cable is not connected to the first set of contacts of the first switch connected to the AC power source;
• the second switch is configured to move the plurality of poles of the second switch between a first position wherein the plurality of power lines of the charging cable is connected to a first set of contacts of the second switch, and a second position wherein the plurality of power lines of the charging cable is not connected to the first set of contacts of the second switch;
• and
• the control apparatus is configured to:
• determine whether to provide an AC charging operation or a DC charging operation,
• in response to determining that an AC charging operation should be provided, control the first switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the AC power source, and the second switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the first set of contacts of the second switch or the second set of contacts of the second switch;
• and
• in response to determining that a DC charging operation should be provided, control the first switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the DC power source, and the second switch to connect the plurality of power lines of the charging cable to the second set of contacts of the second switch.