In one embodiment, an electric vehicle system includes a power system for charging a battery installed in an electric vehicle and comprising a bi-directional power and data connector for receiving power and data from or transmitting the power and data to an electric vehicle charging device, a communications system comprising a server and configured for receiving power from the power system and receiving data from or transmitting the data to the power system for download or upload at the electric vehicle charging device, and an authentication module for authenticating the electric vehicle charging device. A method is also disclosed herein.