The fully automatic charging platform that Continental Engineering Services is developing together with the Austrian start-up Volterio could be a solution for people who put forward “that hassle with cables” as the main argument for not (yet) switching to an EV. put.
With this innovative system you do not have to work with cables yourself, but it is also not about wireless charging via induction† The latter is also useful, but there are also some disadvantages associated with it. For example, inductive charging involves significant energy losses and a strong electromagnetic field is generated during the process.
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In addition, an inductive charging system is also expensive. The Continental and Volterio system would cost considerably less. In concrete terms, this involves a platform that lies on the ground and a unit at the bottom of the car. When you stand with your car above the platform, both elements automatically connect to each other thanks to a 360-degree connector.
The car does not have to be positioned exactly to the centimeter as with induction charging platforms: the margin is up to 30 centimeters, and thanks to ultrasonic guidance and the conical shape of the connector, both elements find each other automatically. When that is done, loading will start automatically. This is possible up to 22 kW alternating current or ‘more than 50 kW’ direct current.
“Our charging robot is an important step in the evolution of making electric mobility more comfortable and more suitable for everyday use.” (Christoph Falk-Gierlinger, Managing Director of Continental Engineering Services)
On the market in 2024
While the concept was being developed by Volterio, Continental is working on the necessary certifications and further preparing the system for production. The first almost production-ready loading robots should be ready by mid-2022, while the real volume production is planned from 2024 and will take place in Germany.
Continental is proud that the system will also work perfectly with autonomous cars that park themselves, so that no human intervention is needed even for charging. A bit like a robot vacuum cleaner or lawn mower that returns to its docking station when its battery needs to be recharged. Initially, the system is intended for use in prevé garages, but later it could also be used in public places.
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