Plug-In Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment

An apparatus for connecting an electric vehicle to an electrical socket and for selectively receiving and delivering either level I voltage or level II voltage, comprising:

• a first connecting means configured to couple with the electrical socket to provide either the level I voltage or the level II voltage;
• a power conducting means having a first end connected to the first connecting means and configured to convey a voltage from the electrical socket to the electric vehicle, the power conducting means being configured to deliver the level I voltage and the level II voltage;
• a communication means configured to couple to a remote processor device and provide communication between the apparatus and the remote processor device, the communication means comprising at least one of a modem, network interface card, serial bus, parallel bus, LAN interface, WAN interface, wired interface, wireless interface or an optical interface;
• a relaying means placed inline with the power conducting means and configured to control voltage along the power conducting means;
• a controlling means connected to the power conducting means and configured to determine the voltage along the power conducting means;
• a second connecting means connected to a second end of the power conducting means and configured to connect to the electric vehicle to provide one of the level I voltage and the level II voltage.

A method of charging an electrical vehicle in order to selectively receive and deliver either level I voltage or level II voltage to the electric vehicle, comprising the steps of:

• receiving an electrical voltage from a power source comprising either the level I voltage or the level II voltage;
• conducting the voltage from the power source to the electrical vehicle via a power conduit;
• controlling the voltage flowing on the power conduit with a first switching relay;
• communicating to a remote processor device using a communication device, the communication device comprising at least one of a modem, network interface card, serial bus, parallel bus, LAN interface, WAN interface, wired interface, wireless interface or an optical interface;
• monitoring the power conduit with a control circuit to determine if the power source is providing power at a low level or at a greater level;
• allowing greater power to flow on the power conduit with a second switch relay when the greater power level is available when the monitoring determines the power source is providing power at the greater power level;
• and
• allowing the low power to flow on the power conduit with the second switch relay when the low power level is available when the monitoring determines the power source is providing power at the low power level.