Volkswagen Teases First Glimpse Of Mobile Robot That Charges Electric Cars
Image via Volkswagen News
Volkswagen has offered the first glimpse of how its prototype EV charging robot will work in practice.
The mobile charger robot, which works autonomously, can be started via an app or through communication with the car itself. Not only will the robot be helpful in charging electric vehicles that are parked away from dedicated spaces, but it also makes R2D2-esques noises as it grabs the battery trailer and plugs into the car.
The video below demonstrates how the robot works. After the driver pulls up in a garage, the charging robot is then signaled via the app that the vehicle needs juice.
The robot then grabs the “mobile energy storage” unit, which is the battery trailer, and brings it over to the vehicle before plugging it in to begin charging.
Also, you do not have to worry about the robot being busy—it leaves the battery trailer at your car so that it is free to charge other vehicles in the meantime. All this is done without the need of a human attendant.
Volkswagen has not announced when the charging robot will be available. “The mobile charging robot has successfully reached prototype status and will now be comprehensively further developed,” Volkswagen said.
[via Car and Driver, cover image via Volkswagen News]
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