Volkswagen’s Mobile Charging Robots Are The Future

• The robots will be summoned using V2X (vehicle to everything) communication.
• They will carry energy storage devices in a trailer.
• Equipped with cameras, ultrasonic sensors, and laser scanners.
• The energy storage devices can store 25kWh and provide 50kW DC fast charging.

Volkswagen Group Components has developed a mobile charging robot prototype. This concept will turn regular parking spaces into charging stations. So, electric vehicle (EV) owners will be able to summon the charging robot from any parking space through an app or V2X (vehicle-to-everything) communication. The robot will then arrive towing an energy device and plug it into the car. Each energy storage device will hold 25kWh and supply 50kW DC electricity. 

The revolutionary concept is aimed at reducing the costs of construction when retrofitting charging stations in parking lots. With this solution, a single robot will be able to cater to numerous cars. It will autonomously move around in the parking lot and ferry around several charging units at a time. In addition, larger parking lots will have multiple robots. 

V2X communication is a technology, which allows cars to communicate with other cars as well as non-car devices. This feature is expected to arrive in multiple VW models slated for 2020. Owners of EVs without V2X will have to rely on an app to call the mobile robot. 

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VW Group Components Head of Development, Mark Moller, believes that the technology is not far fetched. “It’s a visionary prototype, which can be made into reality quite quickly if the general conditions are right,” he says. The company is working towards more user-oriented charging solutions to facilitate and encourage EV ownership. 

 

The European carmaker aims to make EV charging as easy as smartphone charging with 36,000 charging stations in Europe by 2025. The company’s IONITY joint venture will also set up 400 charging stations along major European highways. 

Electric vehicles are gaining momentum in many European countries. Volkswagen’s latest innovation will make the process of setting up a fast-charging station much quicker. However, there are various challenges in the way, like the reliability of an autonomous robot in a parking lot with moving traffic. Then there is the issue of energy management in high-traffic hours. Plus, how much would each recharge cost, and how will you pay for it? The technology has the potential to make EV charging more user-friendly in some cities, but the challenges could restrict widespread use.