Power supply unit

A parking meter comprising:

• a) a housing;
• b) a rechargeable battery;
• c) a wireless communication device for communicating a status message regarding the status of the battery to a control system external to the parking meter;
• and
• d) a control unit for monitoring the status of the rechargeable battery and signaling the wireless communication device to communicate the status message;
• wherein the battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit, are received within the housing of the parking meter.

A power supply for a parking meter comprising:

• a) a rechargeable battery;
• b) a connection to a wireless communication device for communicating a status message regarding the status of the battery to a control system external to the parking meter;
• and
• c) a connection to a control unit for monitoring the status of the rechargeable battery and signaling the wireless communication device to communicate the status message;
• wherein the battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit, are received within the parking meter.

A method for managing the supply of power to a parking meter comprising:

• a) monitoring, by a control unit, the status of a rechargeable battery;
• and
• b) signaling, by the control unit, a wireless communication device to communicate a status message to a control system external to the parking meter regarding the status of the battery;
• wherein the battery, the wireless communication device, and the control unit are received within the parking meter.