Watch How Volkswagen’s Mobile Charging Robot Recharges EVs: Video

A mobile charging robot with multiple battery wagons will take care of EV charging needs.

Volkswagen’s approach to the charging infrastructure is quite comprehensive and one of the latest elements is an autonomous charging concept, which utilizes a mobile charging robot.

We already saw the mobile charging units from Volkswagen Group Components (equipped with 360 kWh battery pack), but in this case, the approach is different. A small, autonomous robot will be used to haul similarly compact mobile battery units (“battery wagons”) around parking lots and connect/disconnect them to EVs that requested a recharge. Everything has to be automatic, including opening and closing the charging inlet.

“After it is started via app or V2X communication, the mobile robot drives itself to the vehicle that needs charging and communicates with it. From opening the charging socket flap to connecting the plug to decoupling – the entire charging process occurs without any human interaction. The highlight: the mobile robot brings a trailer in the form of a mobile energy storage device to the vehicle and connects them; it then uses this energy storage device to charge the battery of the electric vehicle. The mobile energy storage device stays with the vehicle during the whole charging process. The robot, in the meantime, charges other electric vehicles. Once the charging service is complete, the robot collects the energy storage device and brings it back to the charging station.”

A single mobile battery is expected to hold up to around 25 kWh of energy, and offer a DC charging at up to 50 kW (CCS Combo plug).

Volkswagen’s Mobile Charging Robot