A network-controlled charge transfer system for electric vehicles comprising: a server; a data control unit connected to a wide area network for access to said server; and a charge transfer device, remote from said server and said data control unit, comprising: an electrical receptacle configured to receive an electrical connector for recharging an electric vehicle; an electric power line connecting said receptacle to a local power grid; a control device on said electric power line, for switching said receptacle on and off; a current measuring device on said electric power line, for measuring current flowing through said receptacle; a controller configured to operate said control device and to monitor the output from said current measuring device; a local area network transceiver connected to said controller, said local area network transceiver being configured to connect said controller to said data control unit; and a communication device connected to said controller, said communication device being configured to connect said controller to a mobile wireless communication device, for communication between the operator of said electric vehicle and said controller. view more

A system as in claim 31, wherein said wide area network is the Internet.

An apparatus, comprising: a control device to turn electric supply on and off to enable and disable charge transfer for electric vehicles; a transceiver to communicate requests for charge transfer with a remote server and receive communications from the remote server via a data control unit that is connected to the remote server through a wide area network; and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to turn the electric supply on based on communication from the remote server. view more

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an electrical coupler to make a connection with an electric vehicle, wherein the control device is to turn electric supply on and off by switching the electric coupler on and off.

An apparatus, comprising: a control device to control application of charge transfer for an electric vehicle; a transceiver to communicate with a remote server via a data control unit that is connected to the remote server through a wide area network and receive communications from the remote server, wherein the received communications include communications as part of a demand response system; and a controller, coupled with the control device and the transceiver, to cause the control device to modify the application of charge transfer based on the communications received as part of the demand response system. view more

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communications received as part of the demand response system include power grid load data, and wherein the controller is further to manage charge transfer based on the received power grid load data.

A method in a server of a network-controlled charging system for electric vehicles, the method comprising: receiving a request for charge transfer for an electric vehicle at a network-controlled charge transfer device; determining whether to enable charge transfer; responsive to determining to enable charge transfer, transmitting a communication for the network-controlled charge transfer device that indicates to the network-controlled charge transfer device to enable charge transfer; and transmitting a communication for the network-controlled charge transfer device to modify application of charge transfer as part of a demand response system. view more

The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to enable charge transfer includes validating a payment source for the charge transfer.