Abstract: A vehicle charging station includes a shroud configured to guide a vehicle charge plug that is lowered from a vehicle toward a charge connector as the vehicle moves toward the charging station. The vehicle charge plug and the charge connector have contacts arranged on a connector face that is generally perpendicular to a surface on which the vehicle charging station rests.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for transmitting a charging recommendation from a cloud-based server to an electric vehicle (EV), where the charging recommendation includes preferred options for charging stations and/or charging times. In one example, a method comprises receiving, at a cloud-based charging recommendation system of an EV charging system, a set of battery charging parameters from the EV via a secure anonymous connection; determining a set of candidate charging stations for the EV, based on the received battery charging parameters; estimating sustainability, cost, and preference metrics for each candidate charging station; ranking the future charge events based on the sustainability, cost, and preference metrics; selecting one or more charge options for the EV from the ranked future charge events; generating the charging recommendation with the one or more charge options; and transmitting the charging recommendation to the EV via the secure anonymous connection.

Abstract: An indicator assembly includes, among other things, a vehicle model that is configured to communicate with a vehicle. The indicator assembly further includes an indicator portion of the vehicle model. The indicator portion is configured to indicate a status of the vehicle based on a communication sent to the vehicle model.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system includes a vehicle charge port having a first connector with one or more first magnets and a plurality of first terminals arranged in a first array. A charge station for the vehicle includes a support and a second connector attached to the support by an articulating mechanism that permits movement of the second connector relative to the support. The second connector has one or more second magnets and a plurality of second terminals arranged in a second array that matches the first array so that the first terminals are connectable to the second terminals when the first and second connectors aligned. The first and second magnets are arranged to move the second terminals, via the articulating mechanism, into alignment with first terminals when the first and second connectors are within a magnetic-coupling range.

Abstract: A vehicle charging station includes a shroud configured to guide a vehicle charge plug that is lowered from a vehicle toward a charge connector as the vehicle moves toward the charging station. The vehicle charge plug and the charge connector have contacts arranged on a connector face that is generally perpendicular to a surface on which the vehicle charging station rests.

Abstract: A vehicle charging station includes a shroud configured to guide a vehicle charge plug that is lowered from a vehicle toward a charge connector as the vehicle moves toward the charging station. The vehicle charge plug and the charge connector have contacts arranged on a connector face that is generally perpendicular to a surface on which the vehicle charging station rests.

Abstract: An indicator assembly includes, among other things, a vehicle model that is configured to communicate with a vehicle. The indicator assembly further includes an indicator portion of the vehicle model. The indicator portion is configured to indicate a status of the vehicle based on a communication sent to the vehicle model.

Abstract: An automated charging system for a vehicle includes a telescoping mechanism configured to move a charge connector in a vertical direction. The charging system includes a rack and pinion mechanism that is configured to move the telescoping mechanism. The charging system is configured to translate horizontal motion of the rack to vertical motion of the telescoping mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle charging system includes a vehicle charge port having a first connector with one or more first magnets and a plurality of first terminals arranged in a first array. A charge station for the vehicle includes a support and a second connector attached to the support by an articulating mechanism that permits movement of the second connector relative to the support. The second connector has one or more second magnets and a plurality of second terminals arranged in a second array that matches the first array so that the first terminals are connectable to the second terminals when the first and second connectors aligned. The first and second magnets are arranged to move the second terminals, via the articulating mechanism, into alignment with first terminals when the first and second connectors are within a magnetic-coupling range.

Abstract: A vehicle charging station includes a shroud configured to guide a vehicle charge plug that is lowered from a vehicle toward a charge connector as the vehicle moves toward the charging station. The vehicle charge plug and the charge connector have contacts arranged on a connector face that is generally perpendicular to a surface on which the vehicle charging station rests.

Abstract: An automated charging system for a vehicle includes a telescoping mechanism configured to move a charge connector in a vertical direction. The charging system includes a rack and pinion mechanism that is configured to move the telescoping mechanism. The charging system is configured to translate horizontal motion of the rack to vertical motion of the telescoping mechanism.