Photo: Volkswagen
Smartphones have power banks, so why wouldn’t electric cars have their own dedicated mobile charging solution?
With the coming years promising a wealth of electric cars, 2019 is likely to be the defining year for charging technologies. All carmakers that matter work on their own solutions, but Volkswagen, as a group that plans to lead the pack in this emerging sector, has taken things one step forward.
With only a few days left until the new year, the Germans presented the initial details on a mobile charging station that can be set up temporarily wherever the need for it arises.
The station developed by Volkswagen has a total battery storage capacity of up to 360 kWh and is said to be able to charge up to 15 vehicles before depletion, four of which simultaneously, two with DC and two with AC connections.
The technology used in it is of a quick-charge type, meaning the process of juicing up an average car last for about 17 minutes on average,
The biggest novelty this station brings to the industry is the fact that, if needed, it can be installed independently from any power supply. As soon as the energy levels in the station’s battery drop below 20 percent, it can be changed with a new, fully charged one.
For those who find all this swapping process tiring, Volkswagen’s tech allows a connection to the power supply, in which case the battery pack can recharge endlessly.
The first batch of these stations will pop up in Volkswagen’s hometown of Wolfsburg as soon as next year as part of a pilot project. More areas are to follow in 2020.
“The mobile charging stations are a decisive step toward an efficient network of charging points. They can be set up anywhere as required – with or without connection to the power supply,” said in a statement Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen’s head of components.
“In addition, it will be possible to set up a large number of charging stations temporarily – exactly when and where they are needed.”
With only a few days left until the new year, the Germans presented the initial details on a mobile charging station that can be set up temporarily wherever the need for it arises.
The station developed by Volkswagen has a total battery storage capacity of up to 360 kWh and is said to be able to charge up to 15 vehicles before depletion, four of which simultaneously, two with DC and two with AC connections.
The technology used in it is of a quick-charge type, meaning the process of juicing up an average car last for about 17 minutes on average,
The biggest novelty this station brings to the industry is the fact that, if needed, it can be installed independently from any power supply. As soon as the energy levels in the station’s battery drop below 20 percent, it can be changed with a new, fully charged one.
For those who find all this swapping process tiring, Volkswagen’s tech allows a connection to the power supply, in which case the battery pack can recharge endlessly.
The first batch of these stations will pop up in Volkswagen’s hometown of Wolfsburg as soon as next year as part of a pilot project. More areas are to follow in 2020.
“The mobile charging stations are a decisive step toward an efficient network of charging points. They can be set up anywhere as required – with or without connection to the power supply,” said in a statement Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen’s head of components.
“In addition, it will be possible to set up a large number of charging stations temporarily – exactly when and where they are needed.”
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