WO2013027108A1

WO2013027108A1 - Charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles

Info

Publication number: WO2013027108A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/001610
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tatsuya Mukai; Shoji Nakayama; Nobuhiko Toda
Original assignee: Panasonic Corporation
Priority date: 2011-08-23
Filing date: 2012-08-21
Publication date: 2013-02-28
Also published as: CN103582988A; TW201318897A; MY163038A; JP2016123274A; TWI491520B; JP2013046474A; JP6179869B2

Abstract

A charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles includes a main body (10) having a fitting part for attachment to an installation place. In the main body (10), a charging cable CB2, a charging control part (2), and a power cable CBl are provided. To the charging cable CB2, there is wired a charging connector CN2 which is adapted to be detachably connected to an electric motor vehicle to be charged. The charge control part (2) controls charging of the electric motor vehicle connected to the charging connector CN2. To the power cable CBl, there is wired a power connector CN1 for connection to a power receptacle (201) of a commercial alternating current power source. The charging apparatus 1 feeds electric power supplied from the power receptacle (201) via power cable CBl to the electric motor vehicle via charge cable CB2.

Description

CHARGING APPARATUS FOR ELECTRIC MOTOR VEHICLES

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles.

Background of the Invention

In recent years, an electric vehicle driven by an electric motor, such as a battery-powered electric vehicle or a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, has been widespread. As the electric vehicle is progressively widespread, a charging station for electric vehicles is necessary to be installed in a parking space such as a service area on a highway or a commercial facility. There is proposed, for example, the charging station for electric vehicles disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-103287.

The charging apparatus for electric vehicles disclosed in the above document is a stand type, but an attachment type to be attached to a wall of a building may be employed. Even if either type is employed, a power cable needs to be introduced into the charging apparatus in order to receive electric power supplied from a power source. However, such work is difficult for a general user, not an expert. This involves a wiring work by a skilled worker, so that its installation cost becomes higher. Summary of the Invention

In view of the above, an object of the invention is to provide a charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles which can be connected to an external power source with ease.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles including a main body having a fitting part for attachment to an installation place. The charging apparatus includes: a charging cable wired to a charging connector which is adapted to be detachably connected to an electric motor vehicle to be charged; a charging control part for controlling charging of the electric motor vehicle connected to the charging connector; and

a power cable wired to a power connector for connection to an external power source. The charging apparatus feeds electric power supplied from the external power source via the power cable to the electric motor vehicle via the charging cable.

The charging apparatus may further include another power cable wired to a charging connector for connection to an electric motor vehicle serving as a power supply source. The charging apparatus preferably feeds electric power supplied from the electric motor vehicle serving as the power supply source to the electric motor vehicle to be charged via the charging cable.

At least one of the power cable and the charging cable may be constituted by an extensible wire curled spirally to be extensible.

The main body may include a housing part for accommodating the power cable and the power connector therein.

According to the present invention, since the power cable is provided with the power connector for connection to the external power source, the charging apparatus can easily be connected to the external power source.

Brief Description of the Drawings The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view showing a charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, which is an explanatory view showing the state where the charging apparatus of an attachment type is installed on a wall;

Figs. 2A and 2B are external perspective views of the charging apparatus in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3A is a front view of the charging apparatus in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3B is a side view of the charging apparatus ;

Fig. 4 is a front view showing another configuration of the charging apparatus in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 5 is a front view showing still another configuration of the charging apparatus in Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the charging apparatus in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 7 is an external perspective view of the charging apparatus of a stand type in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 8 is an external perspective view showing a further another configuration of the charging apparatus in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an explanatory view showing the state where a charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is in use; and

Fig. 10 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the charging apparatus of the second embodiment.

Detailed Description of the Embodiment

Hereinafter, a charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles in accordance with embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles described in each following embodiment is installed on, for example, a wall of a building located around a garage in a typical dwelling, and is used for charging an electric motor vehicle. Herein, the electric motor vehicle is a vehicle driven by a driving force obtained from electric power stored in a battery, such as an electric vehicle (EV) , a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) , a fuel-cell vehicle (FCV) or the like.

(First Embodiment)

A charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 8.

Fig. 6 is a block diagram showing a schematic structure of the charging apparatus 1A for electric motor vehicles (hereinafter, referred to as "charging apparatus 1A"). The charging apparatus 1A includes a charging control part 2, a display 3, an operation input part 4, a relay Rl, a zero-phase current transformer (ZCT) 5, and terminal blocks TBI, TB2, which are held in a main body.

One end of a power cable CB1 is connected to the terminal block TBI, and the other end is connected to a power connector CN1 which is adapted to be detachably connected to, for example, a power receptacle of a commercial alternating current power source (hereinafter, referred to as "commercial AC power source") . One end of a charging cable CB2 is connected to the terminal block TB2, and the other end is connected to a charging connector CN2 which is adapted to be detachably connected to a charging connector 103 of an electric motor vehicle 100. Note that the charging connector CN2 is integrally provided with: a grip part 110 gripped by a human hand; and a connecting part 111 protruding obliquely forwardly and upwardly from a tip end of the grip part 110, a tip end of the connecting part 111 being detachably connected to the charging connector 103 Herein, the power cable CB1 includes two power lines LI, L2 and a ground line L3. Further, the charging cable CB2 includes two power lines LI, L2, a ground line L3, and a signal line L4 for transmitting and receiving signals (what is called a CPLT signal) between the charging apparatus 1A and a charging circuit 101 included in the electric motor vehicle 100.

Two contacts included in the relay Rl are respectively connected to conductive lines connected to the respective power lines LI, L2, among inner conductive lines connecting between the terminal blocks TBI and TB2. A charging control part 2 controls ON/OFF of the contacts of the relay Rl . When the contacts are turned on, electric power is fed to the electric motor vehicle 100. When the contacts are turned off, the electric power fed to the electric motor vehicle 100 is interrupted. Note that the relay Rl, having normally-open contacts, is switched from open state to closed state by the charging control part 2 when a charging start signal is inputted into the charging control part 2 from the electric motor vehicle 100, so that the electric power is fed to the electric motor vehicle 100.

The zero-phase current transformer 5 is used for detecting unbalanced current generated in between the power lines LI and L2 when electric leakage occurs on the conductive lines on the side of the electric motor vehicle 100 with respect to the relay Rl .

By closing and opening the relay Rl based on the signals inputted from the charging circuit 101 of the motor vehicle 100 via the signal line 4, the charging control part 2 turns on and off the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100, thereby controlling charging of the electric motor vehicle 100. When the leakage occurrence is detected based on an output of the zero-phase current transformer 5 in a charging mode, the charging control part 2 opens the relay Rl to interrupt the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100.

The display 3 includes a display lamp such as a light emitting diode. The charging control part 2 changes the operation states of the display 3 (e.g., lighting on, blinking, lighting off) to exhibit various states of the charging apparatus 1A (e.g., charging mode, no charging mode, leak detection, and the like) .

An operation input part 4 is provided for performing operations such as stopping the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100. The charging control part 2 performs given operations in response to input signals from the operation input part 4.

Next, the structure of the charging apparatus 1A will be described with reference to Figs. 1 to 3B. Note that, unless otherwise noted, up-down and left-right directions are defined as the directions denoted in Fig. 1 (in the state where the charging apparatus 1A is installed on a wall 200) . Further, a front side is defined as the left side in Fig. 3B, and a rear side is defined as the right side in Fig. 3B.

A main body 10 of the charging apparatus 1A is formed into a substantially flat-plate shape by using a synthetic resin. The main body 10 includes a base 11 attached to the wall 200 of a building; and a body 12 made of a synthetic resin and formed into an elongated box-like shape whose rear side is opened, the body 12 being attached to. a front side of the base 11.

The base 11 is provided with an insertion hole formed through the base 11 in the front-rear direction. A fixing screw 15 (see Fig. 3B) inserted through the insertion hole is screwed into the wall 200, whereby the base 11 is fixed on the wall 200. Herein, a fitting part for installing the main body 10 on an installation place mainly includes the fixing screw 15 and the insertion hole (not shown) that is provided in the base 11 for inserting the fixing screw 15 through the base 11.

In the body 12, there are held the charging control part 2, the display 3, the operation input part 4, the relay Rl, the zero-phase current transformer 5, and the terminal blocks TBI, TB2, which are described above as circuit components. The body 12 is attached to the base 11 in a proper manner. A front lower side of the body 12 is opened at its center portion in the left-right direction to form an accommodation recess 13. The accommodation recess 13 into which the charging connector CN2 is partially inserted is provided in a lower portion of the body 12. In the accommodation recess 13, there is provided a connector .holding part 14 for holding a cylindrical connecting part 111 provided at the tip end of the charging connector CN2 in such a manner that the connecting part 111 is inserted into the connector holding part 14. The connector holding part 14, molded of a synthetic resin, is formed into a cylindrical shape whose one end is closed, and holds the charging connector CN2 in the state where a tip end of the connecting part 111 is inserted into the cylinder. In a bottom surface of the body 12, insertion holes for passing the power cable CBl and the charging cable CB2 therethrough respectively are provided on both left and right sides of the accommodation recess 13. The power cable CBl and the charging cable CB2 are inserted through the corresponding insertion holes to be introduced into body 12 and connected to the terminal blocks TBI, TB2 held in the body 12. Further, on a front surface of the body 12, a plurality of, e.g., three, light emitting diodes LD1, LD2, and LD3 constituting the display 3; and a plurality of, e.g., two, control switches SW1 and SW2 constituting the operation input part 4 are disposed side by side in the up-down direction.

The main body 10 of charging apparatus 1A having the above configuration is installed on the wall 200 of a building as shown in Fig. 1. When the power connector CN1 of the main body 10 is connected to a power receptacle 201 that is installed on the wall 200 similarly to the charging apparatus 1A, electric power is supplied to the charging apparatus 1A from a commercial AC power source serving as an external power source. Note that, when the external power source (e.g., a power receptacle of the commercial AC power source) is disposed apart from the charging apparatus 1A, the power connector CN1 may be connected to a connector 203 of a receptacle type provided at an end of a power cord 202 extended from the external power source, so that the electric power is supplied to the charging apparatus 1A from the external power source.

When the charging apparatus 1A is not used for charging the electric motor vehicle 100, the charging connector CN2 is. held in the connector holding part 14. If the charging connector CN2 is left on the ground in a non- charging mode, the charging connector CN2 and the charging cable CB2 are likely to be trodden by a human's foot or a car. In the present- embodiment, however, a user can hold the charging connector CN2 in the connector holding part 14 in the non-charging mode. Accordingly, this reduces a concern that the charging connector CN2 and the charging cable CB2 is trodden by a human's foot or a car. On the other hand, when the electric motor vehicle 100 is charged by using the charging apparatus 1A, the user firstly disconnects the charging connector CN2 from the connector holding part 14 and connects it to the charging connector 103 of the electric motor vehicle 100. Subsequently, when the electric motor vehicle 100 is ready to be charged, a charge starting signal is outputted to the charging control part 2 from the charging circuit 101. The charging control part 2 switches the relay Rl from open state to closed state, so that the electric power is supplied to the electric motor vehicle 100. At this time, the charging circuit 101 charges the battery 102 in the electric motor vehicle 100. When the charging of the battery 102 is completed, a charging completion signal is outputted to the charge control part 2. When the charging completion signal is inputted from the charging circuit 101 of the electric motor vehicle 100, the charging control part 2 switches the relay Rl from closed state to open state to stop the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100, and simultaneously notifies the user of charging completion through the display 3. If electric leakage occurs on the electric motor vehicle side in the charging mode, the charging control part 2 can detect the leakage occurrence based on the output of the zero-phase current transformer 5. When detecting the leakage, the charging control part 2 interrupts the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100 by opening the relay Rl . The charging apparatus 1A performs the above operations to charge the electric motor vehicle 100.

The charging apparatus 1A of the present embodiment includes the main body 10 having the fitting part (such as the fixing screw 15) for attachment to the installation place as described above. The main body 10 is provided with: the charging cable CB2 wired to the charging connector CN2 which is adapted to be detachably connected to the electric motor vehicle 100 to be charged; the charging control part 2 for controlling charging of the electric motor vehicle 100 to which the charging connector CN2 is connected; and the power cable CBl wired to the power connector CN1 which is adapted to be connected to the external power source. The charging apparatus 1A feeds the electric power supplied from the external power source via the power cable CBl to the electric motor vehicle 100 via the charging cable CB2.

Thus, since the power connector CN1 for connection to the external power source is wired to the power cable CBl, even a general user, not an expert, can connect it to the external power source easily. This eliminates the need for a power distribution work by electrical workers, thereby making it possible to reduce an initial cost of the charging apparatus 1A.

By the way, in the charging . apparatus 1A of the present embodiment, the power cable CBl may have an extensible wire Wl (what is called a curled cord) as shown in Fig. A. The extensible wire Wl is curled spirally to be extensible, whereby the wire Wl can be extended depending on a distance from the power receptacle for use.

Accordingly, by extending the power cable CBl for use, the power connector CN1 can be connected to the external power source located at a position having a distance longer than a length of the contracted power cable CBl. Further, when not used, the power connector CN1 is disconnected from the external power source (power receptacle 201) and contracted. This makes the power cable CBl compact, thereby reducing a space for accommodating the power cable CBl . Therefore, the power cable CBl is prevented from being an obstacle when not used. Note that, in the embodiment of Fig 4, only the power cable CBl is made extensible, but the charging cable CB2 may be made extensible instead of the power cable CBl, or both the power cable CBl and the charging cable CB2 may be made extensible.

In the charging apparatus 1A of the present embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the housing part 16 for accommodating the power cable CBl and the power connector CN1 may be provided in the main body 10. The housing part 16 includes a box body 17 having a box-like shape whose front surface is opened and attached to a lower portion of the right side of the main body 10; and a door 18 attached to an edge of the opening of the box body 17 via a hinge to openably close the opening of the box body 17.

When the charging apparatus 1A is not in use, the user opens the door 18 to accommodate the power cable CBl and the power connector CN1 within the box body 17. Then, the door 18 is closed, so that the power cable CBl and power connector CNl can be stored in the housing part 16. When the charging apparatus 1A is in use, the user opens the door 18 to take out the power cable CBl and the power connector CNl from the box body 17. Then, the power cable CBl is connected to, for example, a power receptacle, so that the charging apparatus 1A can be connected to the external power source .

Thus, since the housing part 16 for accommodating the power cable CBl and the power connector CN1 is provided in the main body 10, the user can accommodate the power cable CBl and the power connector CN1 in the housing part 16 when not in use. Accordingly, the power cable CBl and the power connector CN1 are prevented from being an obstacle when not in use, thereby improving its operability.

In the present embodiment, the charging apparatus 1A of a wall attachment type is described as an example, but a charging apparatus IB of a stand type may be employed as shown in Fig. 7.

The charging apparatus IB includes a main body 20 that is erectly installed on the ground. The main body 20 is fixed on the installation place in such a manner that an anchor bolt (not shown) embedded in a basement is inserted through an insertion hole 24 of a mounting base 23 and a nut (not shown) is tightened to the anchor bolt. Herein, a fitting part for installing the main body 20 on the installation place includes the insertion hole 24 of the mounting base 23 and the like.

The main body 20 has an elongated box-like shape, and the circuit components described in Fig. 6 are accommodated inside the main body 20. The charging cable CB2 is drawn out through an insertion hole provided in the front surface of the main body 20, and the charging connector CN2 is wired to a tip end of the charging cable CB2. The power cable CBl extends from a lower portion of a rear side of the main body 20. The power connector CN1 is connected to a tip end of the power cable CBl. The power connector CN1 is connected to the connector 203 wired to the power cord 202 extending from the external power source, or connected to a power receptacle provided in a wall of a building, whereby the charging apparatus IB is connected to the external power source .

Thus, the power connector CNl for connection to the external power source is wired to the power cable CBl included in the charging apparatus IB of a stand type. Therefore, even a general user, not an expert, can connect the power connector CNl to the external power source easily. Consequently, the charging apparatus IB 'of a stand type can easily be installed, even if a general user does.

Meanwhile, in the charging apparatus IB of a stand type, either the power cable CBl or the charging cable CB2 may be made extensible as described in Fig. 4, or both the power cable CBl and the charging cable CB2 may be made extensible. The power cable CBl, when made extensible, is usably extended and contracted depending on a distance from the external power source. Further, the charging cable CB2, when made extensible, is usably extended and contracted depending on a distance from the electric motor vehicle. Moreover, the power cable CBl and the charging cable CB2 can be contracted in the non-charging mode. Thus, the power cable CBl and the charging cable CB2 are prevented from being bulky, thereby being accommodated compactly.

As shown in Fig. 8, the door 21 may be provided in the rear side of the main body 20. Inside the door 21, a housing part 22 for accommodating the power cable CBl and the power connector CNl may be provided. When the user opens the door 21, the housing part 22 is opened. In this state, the power cable CBl and power connector CN1 can be taken out from the housing part 22, or accommodated in the housing part 22.

(Second Embodiment)

The charging apparatus of the second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 9 and 10. Note that identical reference numerals are assigned to the same components in the charging apparatuses 1A and IB described in the first embodiment, and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

In the charging apparatuses 1A and IB of the first embodiment, electric power is supplied from a commercial AC power source. In the present embodiment, however, the charging apparatus IB receives electric power from an electric motor vehicle 100A serving as a power supply source (hereinafter referred to as "power-supply electric motor vehicle") , and feeds the electric power to an electric motor vehicle 100B to be charged- (hereinafter referred to as "power-receiving electric motor vehicle"), as shown in Fig. 9.

Circuit configurations of the charging apparatus IB and the electric motor vehicles 100A, 100B will be described with reference to a schematic block diagram shown in Fig. 10

As a power cable, the charging apparatus IB includes a power cable CB3 connected to the power-supply electric motor vehicle, in addition to the power cable CBl connected to the commercial AC power source. Note that the power cable CB3 and a connector CN3 have the same structures as those of the charging cable CB2 and the charging connector CN2, but are different in color and sign from the charging cable CB2 and the charging connector CN2 to identify them easily.

Further, the charging apparatus IB includes the relay Rl, the charging control part 2, a communication part 6, a DC/AC converter 7, a switching part 8, and a setting part 9.

The setting part 9 is used for the user to switch between a state where the power-receiving electric motor vehicle receives electric power from the commercial AC power source and a state where the power-receiving electric motor vehicle receives electric power from the power-supply electric motor vehicle. The setting part 9 includes, for example, a slide switch and is disposed in a front surface of the main body 20 as an operation knob.

The charging control part 2 controls the DC/AC converter 7, the switching part 8, and the communication part 6 based on setting signals inputted from the setting part 9 in response to user's switching operation and signals from the electric motor vehicle which the communication part 6 transmits and receives.

When the switching part 8 is switched to supply the power from the commercial AC power source by the charging control part 2, AC power inputted through the power cable CB1 is outputted to the relay Rl . When the switching part 8 is switched to supply the power from the power-supply electric motor vehicle by the charging control part 2, DC power inputted through the power cable CB3 is outputted to the DC/AC converter 7.

When the DC power (a few hundred DC volts) is inputted to the DC/AC converter 7 through the switching part 8, the DC/AC converter 7 converts the DC power into AC power (100 to 200 VAC) and outputs it to the relay Rl . Furthermore, the electric motor vehicles 100A and 100B include a battery 102, a charging connector 103, a charging/discharging circuit 104, a charging/discharging control circuit 105, and a communication circuit 106.

Any one of the charging connector CN2 and the connector CN3 is detachably connected to the charging connector 103. Herein, the charging connector CN2 is provided in the charging cable CB2 extended from the charging apparatus IB, and the connector CN3 is provided in the charging cable CB3 extended from the charging apparatus IB.

The communication circuit 106 transmits and receives signals between the electric motor vehicles 100A, 100B and the charging apparatus IB ^via the power cable CB2 or the power cable CB3 connected to the charging connector 103.

The charging/discharging control circuit 105 controls a charging/discharging circuit 104 based on the signals from the charging apparatus IB which the communication circuit 106 receives.

The charging/discharging circuit 104 charges the battery 102 (charging operation) or outputs electric power discharged from the battery 102 to the charging apparatus IB (discharging operation) , based on control signals from the charging/discharging control circuit 105. In a charging mode of the battery 102, the charging/discharging circuit 104 converts AC power (e.g., 100 to 200 VAC) inputted from the charging connector 103 into DC power, and charges the battery 102. In a discharging mode of the battery 102, the charging/discharging circuit 104 outputs the DC power (a few hundred DC volts) discharged from the battery 102 to the charging apparatus IB via the charging connector 103.

Now, a charging operation of the electric motor vehicle using the charging apparatus IB will be described.

Firstly, there will be described the case where the charging apparatus IB receives power supply from a commercial AC power source and charges the electric motor vehicle 100B. The user connects the power connector CN1 of the charging apparatus IB to the power receptacle of the commercial AC power source, and connects the charging connector CN2 to the charging connector 103 of the power- receiving electric motor vehicle 100B. Then, by using the setting part 9, the user switches the charging apparatus IB to the state where electric power is supplied from the commercial AC power source. At this time, the switching part 8 is switched, by the charging control part 2, such that AC power inputted via the power cable CB1 is outputted to the relay Rl . When the charging control part 2 turns on the relay Rl based on the signals transmitted from the electric motor vehicle 100B, the AC power inputted from the commercial AC power source is fed to the electric motor vehicle 100B, so that the battery 102 is charged through the charging/discharging circuit 104 of the electric motor vehicle 100B. During the charging, the charging control part 2 lights on the light emitting diode LD4 disposed in a front surface of the main body 20. The lighting of the light emitting diode LD4 notifies the user of receiving the power supply from the commercial AC power source and charging the electric motor vehicle 100B. When the charging of the battery 102 is completed in the power-receiving electric motor vehicle 100B, a charging completion signal is transmitted to the communication part 6 of the charging apparatus IB from the communication circuit 106. When receiving the charging ^' completion signal via the communication part 6, the charging control part 2 of the charging apparatus IB turns off the relay Rl and stops the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100B. At the same time, .the charging control part 2 lights off the light emitting diode LD4 to notify the user of the charging completion .

Next, there will be described the case where the charging apparatus IB receives DC power from the electric motor vehicle 100A and charges the electric motor vehicles 100B other than the electric motor vehicle 100A, for example, when the commercial AC power source is in failure. First of all, the user connects the power connector CN3 of the charging apparatus IB to the charging connector 103 of the power-supply electric motor vehicle 100A, and connects the charging connector CN2 to the charging connector 103 of the power-receiving electric motor vehicle 100B. After connecting the charging connector CN2 and _ the power connector CN3, the user switches the charging apparatus IB, by using the setting part 9, to the state where electric power is supplied from the electric motor vehicle 100A. At this time, the switching part 8 is switched, by the charge control part 2, such that DC power inputted via the power cable CB3 is outputted to the DC/AC converter 7. When the power-receiving electric motor vehicle transmits a charge- starting signal to the charging control part 2 via the communication part 6, the charging control part 2 transmits a discharge-starting signal to the power-supply electric motor vehicle 100A via the communication part 6. Then, the charging control part 2 turns on the relay Rl and starts a DC-AC converting operation through the DC/AC converter 7. At this time, in the power-supply electric motor vehicle 100A, the charging/discharging control circuit 105 controls the charging/discharging circuit 104 such that it discharges DC power in the battery 102 and outputs the DC power discharged from the battery 102 to the charging apparatus IB. In the charging apparatus IB, the DC power supplied from the motor vehicle 100A is outputted to the DC/AC converter 7 through the switching part 8. The DC power is converted into AC power through the DC/AC converter 7, and then is fed to the power-receiving electric motor vehicle 100B via the relay Rl . In the power-receiving electric motor vehicle 100B, the battery 102 is charged through the charging/discharging circuit 104. During the charging, the charging control part 2 lights on a light emitting diode LD5 disposed in the front surface of the main body 20. The lighting of the light emitting diode LD5 notifies the user of receiving the electric power supplied from the electric motor vehicle 100A and charging the battery 102. Subsequently, when the charging of the battery 102 is completed in the power-receiving electric motor vehicle 100B, a charging completion signal is transmitted from the communication circuit 106 to the communication part 6. When receiving the charging completion signal via the communication part 6, the charging control part 2 of the charging apparatus IB turns off the relay Rl and stops the power supply to the electric motor vehicle 100B. At the same time, the charging control part 2 outputs a signal to the power-supply electric motor vehicle 100A and stops the discharging from the electric motor vehicle 100A. Further, the charging control part 2 of the charging apparatus IB lights off the light emitting diode LD5 to notify the user of the charging completion.

Thus, in the charging apparatus IB of the present embodiment, the power connector CN3 is connected to the power-supply electric motor vehicle 100A to feed the electric power supplied from the power-supply motor vehicle 100A to the^' power-receiving electric motor vehicle 100B.

Accordingly, since the power connector CN3 of the charging apparatus IB can be connected to an electric motor vehicle other than the power-receiving electric motor vehicle, the power-receiving electric motor vehicle can receive electric power from the above electric motor vehicle to charge its own battery.

Note that the charging apparatus IB of the present embodiment receives DC power from the power-supply motor vehicle, but the above electric motor vehicle may be provided with an AC/DC converter for converting the DC power discharged from the battery 102 into AC power and outputting it to the charging apparatus IB. In this case, the charging apparatus IB may output the AC power supplied from the above electric motor vehicle,, without modification, to the power- receiving electric motor vehicle, whereby the DC/AC converter 7 is not necessarily to be provided in the charging apparatus IB.

In the present embodiment, the charging apparatus IB of a stand type is described as an example, but the charging apparatus 1A of a wall attachment type described in the first embodiment may receive the power supply from the power-supply electric motor vehicle 100A and output it to the power-receiving electric motor vehicle 100B.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A charging apparatus for electric motor vehicles including a main body having a fitting part for attachment to an installation place, the apparatus comprising:

a charging cable wired to a charging connector which is adapted to be detachably connected to an electric motor vehicle to be charged;

a charging control part for controlling charging of the electric motor vehicle connected to the charging connector; and

a power cable wired to a power connector for connection to an external power source, wherein

the charging apparatus feeds electric power supplied from the external power source via the power cable to the electric motor vehicle via the charging cable.

2. The charging apparatus as set forth in Claim 1, further comprising:

another power cable wired to a charging connector for connection to an electric motor vehicle serving as a power supply source,

wherein the charging apparatus feeds electric power supplied from the electric motor vehicle serving as the power supply source to the electric motor vehicle to be charged via the charging cable.

3. The charging apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 or 2, wherein

at least one of the power cable and the charging cable is constituted by an extensible wire curled spirally.

4. The charging apparatus as set forth in Claim 1 or 2, wherein

at least one of the power cable and the charging cable is made extensible.

5. The charging apparatus as set forth in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein

the main body is provided with a housing part for accommodating the power cable and the power connector therein .