Electric vehicle charging station

1. A vehicle charging station comprising:

a track configured to extend across a plurality of vehicle parking spaces;

a movable charging apparatus supported by the track and translatable along the track between the plurality of vehicle parking spaces, the movable charging apparatus including:

a base slidably coupled with the track; and

an end effector in mechanical communication with the base and configured to electrically couple with an electric vehicle disposed within one of the plurality of vehicle parking spaces; and

a power delivery circuit configured to receive an electrical charge from a power source and to controllably provide the electrical charge to the electric vehicle.

2. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , further comprising a processor configured to:

detect the presence of the electric vehicle within the parking space;

determine a state of charge of a traction battery associated with the electric vehicle;

direct the movable charging apparatus to provide an electrical charge to the electric vehicle if the state of charge is below a threshold.

3. The vehicle charging station of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine an identity of the detected electric vehicle within the parking space;

determine an amount of an electrical charge provided to the electric vehicle by the movable charging apparatus; and

generate an invoice from the determined identity and the amount of provided electrical charge.

4. The vehicle charging station of claim 2 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a state of charge of a traction battery associated with the electric vehicle through one or more wireless signals received from the vehicle.

5. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the movable charging apparatus further includes a mechanical arm coupling the end effector to the base; and

wherein the mechanical arm includes a plurality of actuatable joints capable of moving the end effector in at least 5 degrees of freedom.

6. The vehicle charging station of claim 5 , further comprising a robotic controller coupled with the plurality of actuatable joints and configured to:

locate a charging receptacle on the vehicle;

obtain access to the charging receptacle;

control the one or more of the actuatable joints to align the end effector with the charging receptacle; and

electrically couple the end effector with the charging receptacle.

7. The vehicle charging station of claim 6 , wherein the robotic controller is configured to locate a charging receptacle on the vehicle by receiving a radio frequency locating signal from a location proximate to the charging receptacle.

8. The vehicle charging station of claim 6 , wherein the robotic controller is configured to obtain access to the charging receptacle by providing a wireless command to the vehicle to open a charging receptacle door.

9. The vehicle charging station of claim 6 , wherein the robotic controller is configured to obtain access to the charging receptacle by controlling the one or more of the actuatable joints such that the end effector opens a door that selectively covers the charging receptacle.

10. The vehicle charging station of claim 6 , wherein the robotic controller is configured to locate a charging receptacle on the vehicle by:

receiving at least one of electromagnetic radiation and sound pressure waves; and

identifying indicia of the charging receptacle from the at least one of electromagnetic radiation and sound pressure waves.

11. The vehicle charging station of claim 10 , wherein the electromagnetic radiation from which the indicia are identified has a wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 750 nm.

12. The vehicle charging station of claim 10 , wherein the sound pressure waves from which the indicia are identified have a frequency above 30 kHz.

13. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the movable charging apparatus further includes a flexible electrical cable coupling the end effector to the base.

14. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the provided electrical charge has a voltage in the range of 200-500 VAC or 400-500 VDC.

15. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the movable charging apparatus has a total power consumption is less than 50 kW.

16. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the track is disposed on the ground.

17. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the track is disposed above the ground, such that the movable charging apparatus is substantially located between the ground and the track.

18. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vehicle parking spaces is a first plurality of vehicle parking spaces; and

wherein the track is disposed between the first plurality of vehicle parking spaces and a second plurality of vehicle parking spaces.

19. The vehicle charging station of claim 1 , wherein the movable charging apparatus is a first movable charging apparatus;

further comprising a second movable charging apparatus supported by the track and translatable along the track; and

wherein the first movable charging apparatus is substantially identical to the second movable charging apparatus.