Vehicle charging station having a dual position locking door

A method for locking and unlocking a door of a vehicle charging station, wherein the door is coupled with a compartment having a receptacle for receiving a charging cord of a vehicle, the method comprising:

• locking the door without drawing power in a first position while the vehicle charging station is idle to prevent access to the compartment, wherein the door remains locked in the first position if the charging station loses power while the charging station is idle;
• upon receiving a request from a customer to use the vehicle charging station, unlocking the door from the first position to allow the customer to open the door and insert a plug of the charging cord into the receptacle;
• receiving the plug of the charging cord from the customer;
• locking the door in a second position to prevent access to the plug of the charging cord;
• and
• upon receiving a request from the customer to retrieve the charging cord, unlocking the door from the second position.

A charging station to charge electric vehicles, comprising:

• a power receptacle compartment hingedly coupled with a door, the power receptacle compartment including a power receptacle to receive an electrical plug coupled with a battery of an electric vehicle;
• a locking apparatus including:
• a first locking unit to lock the door in a closed position without drawing power such that if power is lost to the charging station the door remains locked, wherein the power receptacle is inaccessible when the door is locked in the closed position, and
• a second locking unit to lock the door in a charging position when the electrical plug is inserted into the power receptacle to prevent access to the electrical plug, and to unlock the door from the charging position if the charging station loses power.