How VW’s Self-Driving Battery Wagons Will Give EV Drivers Parking Freedom Back

The system envisioned by Volkswagen requires an autonomous robot, and a number of mobile charging stations that can be moved into the required position.

The theory behind this tech goes like this: an EV enters a parking lot and the driver, via an app, calls for the autonomous robot. The machine picks up a mobile charging station, moves to the car in need of a refill, and connects the station.

The robot then leaves the station in its position until charging is complete, and in the meantime it can move away to distribute more stations to more cars. This allows for more EVs to be charged at the same time regardless of their position on the parking lot, and it can help eliminate cues.

But most importantly, the idea gives EV owners their parking freedom back, as they all presently are looking for that elusive spot near a charging station..

As per Volkswagen, a prototype of the technology that consists of a self-driving robot, and mobile stations called battery wagons is currently being tested. These stations can hold 25 kWh each, and several can be moved at the same time by the robot.

For now, there are no plans to actually mass-produce the technology, but if the general conditions are right, says Mark Möller, Head of Development at Volkswagen Group Components, that could change.

“This approach has an enormous economic potential,” the executive said in a statement.

“The constructional work as well as the costs for the assembly of the charging infrastructure can be reduced considerably through the use of the robots.”

More details on this yet unnamed innovation can be found in the press release section below.