Methods, systems and apparatus for authorizing operation of an electric vehicle that is being charged at a charging station

A system for authorizing operation of an electric vehicle within boundaries that are defined with respect to a charging station that the electric vehicle is being charged at, comprising:

• a computer associated with the charging station, the computer comprising a processor being configured to:
• determine whether predefined criteria relating to charging status of the electric vehicle have been satisfied;
• and
• communicate, when the predefined criteria are determined to be satisfied, a virtual key to the electric vehicle that allows the electric vehicle to be operated in a limited operating mode that defines constraints on operating the vehicle, wherein the virtual key authorizes operation of the electric vehicle within the boundaries that are defined with respect to the charging station, and allows the electric vehicle to be operated in the limited operating mode without a physical key or fob being present at the vehicle.

An electric vehicle, comprising:

• a processor configured to:
• receive a virtual key from a computer associated with a charging station when predefined criteria relating to charging status of the electric vehicle are determined to have been satisfied, wherein the virtual key authorizes operation of the electric vehicle within boundaries that are defined with respect to the charging station, wherein the virtual key defines constraints on operating the electric vehicle that allow the electric vehicle to be operated in a limited operating mode;
• and
• control operation of the electric vehicle according to the constraints on operating the electric vehicle that are defined by the virtual key.