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Volkswagen Group Components' mobile gas station attendant robot brings a trailer in the form of a mobile energy storage device for electric cars.
The Volkswagen Group has developed a robot attendant for electric cars that can autonomously navigate parking areas, start a car and then return to its outpost without human intervention.
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The prototype, created by Volkswagen Group Components, aims to show how the automaker will expand charging infrastructure in the coming years to meet the expected demand that will arise as it produces and sells more electric cars.
The Volkswagen Group has committed to launching dozens of electric car models in the coming years. A brand Volkswagen plans to build and sell 1,5 million electric cars by 2025.
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"Establishing an efficient charging infrastructure for the future is a core task that challenges the entire industry," Volkswagen Group CEO Thomas Schmall said in a statement. “We are developing solutions to help avoid costly autonomous measures. The mobile charging robot and our flexible fast charging station are just two of these solutions.”
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The Volkswagen Group is developing a portfolio of different robot charging products, including a DC wall box that charges up to 22 kilowatts. The automaker began testing its DC wallbox earlier this month at some of its production sites in Germany. The Volkswagen Group is also planning to launch a flexible fast charging station – even more stationary – in early 2021.
The mobile gas station attendant robot does not have a release date. The company has now said it has achieved prototype status that will be "widely developed". There is one caveat for the mobile charger. VW said Car-to-X communication, which allows a vehicle to "talk" to the infrastructure, will be a prerequisite for the mobile charger to reach market maturity.
With a simple tap on your cell phone, you can fill up your car with the robot attendant
The charging robot prototype can be started via an application launched by the vehicle owner or car-to-x communication. As soon as the communication starts, the cell phone charger is turned on – two digital eyes open on the screen – and he heads for an electric car.
The mobile robot attendant opens the charging socket cover and also connects or disconnects the plug. The robot is also able to move around and connect the electric cars to an energy storage unit.
Once charging is complete, the robot picks up the mobile energy storage unit and takes it back to a central charging station.
Schmall said that DC charging products will not only focus on customer needs and technical prerequisites for electric cars, but will also consider the economic possibilities of potential partners such as parking space operators and underground car parks.
