Charging cable for electric vehicle and method of controlling charging cable using determination of a charging cable usage history

摘要

A charging cable, used for charging an electric storage device in an electric vehicle from an external power supply, controls a usage history of the charging cable by a CCID, displays a warning on an external monitor, and regulates charging when a service life limit of the charging cable has been exceeded.

主权项

1. A charging cable for an electric vehicle through which an electric storage device, provided in the vehicle and used for driving the vehicle, is charged from an external power supply, the charging cable comprising:
a first coupler that connects the charging cable to a vehicle inlet provided in the vehicle; a second coupler that connects the charging cable to the external power supply; a control device configured to control a usage history of the charging cable, wherein the control device includes: a storage section that stores the usage history of the charging cable; a detection section that detects a usage state of the charging cable and that updates the usage history based on the detected usage state; a determination section that determines whether a service life limit of the charging cable has been exceeded based on the stored usage history and a reference value; and an electric wire section that is provided between the first coupler and the control device and between the second coupler and the control device, through which electric power and a control signal pass, wherein the control device further includes a command output section that sends commands to limit the charging of the vehicle when the determination section determines that the service life limit of the charging cable has been exceeded, the control device is configured to set the control signal to an oscillating signal upon detecting that the first coupler and the second coupler are connected to the vehicle inlet and the external power supply respectively, and the commands sent by the command output section include a command to stop oscillation of the control signal in response to a determination by the determination section that the service life limit of the charging cable has been exceeded.