Inoperable battery charger detection and notification for electric vehicles

1. A system for detecting an inoperative battery charger for a vehicle comprising:

a rechargeable battery;

a battery charger configured to electrically couple to and thereby establish an initial electrical coupling with the rechargeable battery to produce a power connection signal;

a microprocessor-based control unit configured to detect the power connection signal, and in response to the detection, disable the vehicle by entering the vehicle in a locked-out state; and

an indicator in communication with the microprocessor-based control unit and configured to identify an operational status of the battery charger,

wherein, when the microprocessor-based control unit confirms both that the vehicle is in the locked-out state and that a plug connection status has been set to disconnected, the microprocessor-based control unit measures a first voltage value of the rechargeable battery and, after a predetermined period of time has passed from the initial electrical coupling, measures a second voltage value of the rechargeable battery, and

wherein, the microprocessor-based control unit changes the plug connection status from disconnected to connected in response to a confirmation of the presence of the power connection signal to reflect that the battery charger and vehicle are electrically connected, and

wherein, when the microprocessor-based control unit determines the value of the second voltage is less than or equal to the first voltage value and confirms the plug connection status as connected, but has not yet confirmed that the charger is operable, the microprocessor-based control unit actuates the indicator to indicate the operational status of the battery charger as inoperable, the operational status of the battery charger as being inoperable being determined after a predetermined period of time from the initial electrical coupling.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is one or more of an audible signal and a visual signal.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indicator is a wireless communication signal.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the wireless communication signal is transmitted to a remote third party via a wireless connection.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor-based control unit measures the predetermined period of time by tracking the time that has passed since the measured first voltage value.

6. A method of detecting an inoperable battery charger of a vehicle, the method comprising:

establishing an electrical coupling between a battery charger and a rechargeable battery to produce a power connection signal;

detecting by a microprocessor the power connection signal, and in response to the detection, disabling the vehicle by entering a locked-out state;

measuring by the microprocessor a first voltage of the battery in response to confirming both that the vehicle is in the locked-out state and that a plug connection status has been set to disconnected;

subsequently measuring a second voltage of the battery;

changing by the microprocessor the plug connection status from disconnected to connected in response to a confirmation of the presence of the power connection signal to reflect that the battery charger and vehicle are electrically connected; and

after confirming the plug connection status as connected and the microprocessor is not indicating that the battery charger is operable, indicating an operational status of the battery charger as inoperable in response to the second voltage being less than or equal to the first voltage, the operational status of the battery charger as being inoperable being determined after a predetermined period of time from the electrical coupling.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising wirelessly transmitting the operational status of the battery charger to a remote third party.

8. The system of claim 2 , wherein the predetermined period of time is about 30 seconds.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined period of time is about 30 seconds.