Volkswagen shows off mobile robotic chargers

Volkswagen has revealed a new concept for mobile robotic chargers that will solve the need for countries to install costly charging infrastructure.

Instead of fixed charging points, in the future, VW says compact autonomous charging robots will automatically roam around car parks within urban areas in search of cars that need a top up.

The robots, nicknamed 'battery wagons' by the German car-maker, tow a mobile energy storage device to a vehicle that needs a re-charge and automatically plugs it in while the owner is away.

Using an array of laser scanners, cameras and ultrasonic cameras to avoid moving cars, obstacles and pedestrians, the small robots are equipped with mechanical arms that carefully open the electric car's charging flap and connect it to the battery.

Once charged, the little R2D2-like droid returns, unplugs the charger and tows the energy storage unit back to its cradle for recharging.

The battery wagon concept is said to store around 25kWh of energy each that allows it to deliver up to 50kW DC fast charge – a similar charge-rate to many current chargers currently in operation.

Once launched, Volkswagen expects multiple robots will service each car park, especially in cramped older car parks that are impossible to be upgraded with hard-mounted charge points.

There's no word when VW plans to unleash its army of robo-chargers but says if there's demand the little droids can be introduced to the market "quite quickly."

Until then, the car-maker has already announced that by 2025 it will have installed 36,000 charging points in Europe alone.

Volkswagen says it will soon launch its ID. Charger wallbox that will be sold along with its new family of ID. hatch and SUVs.