Automotive

Autev robots could bring EV charging to regular parking spots

Autev robots could bring EV charging to regular parking spots
The Autev mobile robot makes any parking spot EV-friendly
The Autev mobile robot makes any parking spot EV-friendly
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The Autev mobile robot makes any parking spot EV-friendly
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The Autev mobile robot makes any parking spot EV-friendly
Fleets of the robots will be based out of a central charging station within the garage
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Fleets of the robots will be based out of a central charging station within the garage

As the number of electric vehicles on our roads increases, so does the need for charger-accessible parking spots. Instead of having to create more EV-specific spots, parking garage operators could soon utilize Autev charging robots that come to people's cars.

Designed by a Seattle-based startup of the same name, the Autev bot is basically a big battery on wheels. It autonomously makes its way to a user's electric car (or other type of EV) when hailed by that person via an app. That vehicle can be located at any parking spot within the garage, EV-dedicated or otherwise.

Once the robot arrives, the user just plugs its charging cable into their vehicle's charging port, then leaves it to get the job done as they run their errands, etc.

When they return, they unplug the bot's cable, allowing it to head back to its own charging station within the garage. If the user gets back early and wants to leave before charging is complete, they can either reduce the desired charging capacity via the app, or just manually unplug the robot's cable.

Fleets of the robots will be based out of a central charging station within the garage
Fleets of the robots will be based out of a central charging station within the garage

Autev CEO/cofounder Osama AlSalloum tells us that the robot supports DCFC fast charging technology, and is capable of charging up to six vehicles before needing to get recharged itself.

It is hoped that fleets of the bots will be commercially available to garage operators by the first quarter of next year. Those operators will pay a monthly fee, and receive revenue both from customer charging fees and advertising on the robots.

For other examples of mobile EV-charging robots currently in development, check out the offerings from Volkswagen and EV Safe Charge.

Source: Autev

5 comments
5 comments
Chase
Great, now the Tesla that parks 3 feet out of their parking spot can have a big battery pack sticking even further out into the narrow parking garage isle.
guzmanchinky
I love this idea. Soon all cars will be electric and I can't wait...
Dave Holland
How much power can be pulled from the grid into the average car parking station?
Currently not very much as they aren’t high draw businesses, but this is more than they will be able to in the future as the demands on their local part of the grid will increase as a result of more and more electrification. We need to understand that our access to power via copper wires, is like our access to the internet was via copy. The wire is a shared resource - it needs more power to be put in, on bigger transmission and distribution wires or there wont be too many cars getting charged in a down town carpark.
Bob Flint
How is this any more efficient, with the added vehicle creation, space, any recycling?
Cables are simpler, and cheaper, still need to get out & plug it in.
Gordien
There is a loss of power through the charging process. So, to charge a battery from a battery doubles that loss. It really makes sense to be able to swap out batteries. Plus it should be a lot quicker, than having to wait for the remote battery charger interphase. But I know there is a place for such devises, so they should still be developed - just not as the primary choice.