In countries with a high rate of electric vehicle (EV) adoption, charging an EV has become more of a hassle with long queues at charge spots, blocking fees for disconnecting the power cable too late, and manhandling the cable. Bosch and Cariad are now testing a solution for this, and it is an automated valet charging system.
Currently tested at their in-house parking garages, the automated valet charging system will guide the EV driverlessly to an available charging spot where a charging robot will charge the car automatically. Once the EV is fully charged, the automated valet charging system will move it to a parking bay without a charger. Thus, allowing other cars to be charged.
With Cariad being a subsidiary of Volkswagen, the vehicle shown conducting the test is an electric Audi. The images show a parking bay with a gantry with supposed sensors on it and a robot arm with a charger sitting on a wheeled platform. We assume that this is to cater to the various charging port locations of different makes and models of EVs.
Bosch Vice President of cross-domain Level 4 parking product area, Manuel Maier said, “Automation plays a key role in the mobility revolution and the transition to electromobility. Our two services – automated valet parking and automated valet charging – make the mobility experience much smoother for users.”
“Making it straightforward to recharge electric vehicles allays people’s misgivings about range, and is essential if electromobility is to find widespread acceptance. With this in mind, Bosch and Cariad can make parking and charging even more efficient and convenient.”
RELATED: To save you time, Mercedes-Benz and Bosch debut world’s first L4 driverless valet parking
With this new system, you won’t have to worry about hogging a charger once your car is fully charged, let alone things like idling fees. You can simply leave your car to charge by itself and it will responsibly move to a charger-less spot to allow other electric cars to be charged once it is done. Currently in a testing phase, we are assuming that you will also be able to set your car to stop charging at your own desired state of charge (SoC) as well.
Cariad head of parking, Rolf Dubitzky said, “We’re particularly pleased to be shaping the future of automated parking and charging together with Bosch. Our collaboration allows us to test the technologies at an early stage of vehicle development, so that the end product is reliable and offers customers the best possible user experience.”
What are your thought on Bosch and Cariad’s automated valet charging system?
RELATED: Bosch and Daimler receive approval for automated parking system
GALLERY
