An apparatus and method for providing a public or private electric
charging station or device. In the case of a public
station, a user can approach an outlet
station in an electric car, plug the car into the
station similar to using a
gasoline pump, present a
credit card to the
system, and be provided with either
standard line voltage of sufficient wattage to charge the battery of an electric or
hybrid vehicle. After the vehicle is charged, the
credit card debited for the correct amount for the power dispensed, or other arrangements to pay can be accommodated such as debiting a prepaid account. Optionally, the user can also inject reverse-flow power back into the grid for credit and receive credit for the power injected. The present invention can take
advantage of dynamic power rates and cause an optional
delay in charging until a favorable power rate. Several users can share the same private or semi-private station, and can identify themselves to the station by key access, card
swipe, biometrically, or by a card containing an RFID
chip that contains their identity. Service provided could then be billed to a prepaid or subscriber account. A central computer can manage several
remote power dispensing stations over a network.