Kerbside Vehicle Charger

Abstract

A charging apparatus for a vehicle where a terminal (1, FIG. 2) is connected to at least one kerbside power/data unit (9) to provide a power (4) and a data connection (5) to the power/data unit (9), the power/data unit (9) being connected to a nearby vehicle (17) to provide power to charge the vehicle (17) and receive data from the vehicle (17). The fact that the kerbside power/data unit (9) can charge a vehicle (17) using power supplied from a terminal (1, FIG. 2) and can transmit data from the vehicle (17) to the terminal (1, FIG. 2) provides the power and data requirements for connected autonomous vehicles at a kerbside location.

1 - 33 . (canceled) 
     
     
         34 . A power and data access system for vehicles, wherein the system comprises:
 a terminal connected to a plurality of power and data sub-system units, the power and data sub-system units being remote from the terminal, wherein each power and data sub-system unit is configured to be connected to a charger unit positioned above the power and data sub-system unit,   the terminal being positioned on a street side, wherein the terminal is configured to receive electrical power from a power source and has a high speed data connection to a data source;   each power and data sub-system unit having a respective chamber that is positioned at a parking spot for vehicles and at a level below a surface of the ground, wherein each power and data sub-system unit comprises a controller within the chamber, and each power and data sub-system unit is connected to the terminal such that power and data are transferrable between the terminal and the power and data sub-system unit and the transfer is controllable by the controller;   wherein each power and data sub-system unit comprises an access plate to the chamber and a connector, the connector being accessible from the street level via the access plate, the connector being connectable to an interchangeable charger unit that is positioned above the sub-system unit on the street side and is accessible to a user to connect to a vehicle to transfer electrical power between the vehicle and the terminal via the power and data sub-system unit;   wherein each power and data sub-system unit includes an access point to provide wireless connection and is configured to transfer high speed data to or from a vehicle or transfer data to or from a user in wireless connectivity range via the access point.