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Mobile robots are revolutionizing electric vehicle charging

Autonomous EV charging robots are revolutionizing urban mobility, offering a flexible and cost-effective solution for electric vehicle charging in densely populated areas.

Autonomous EV charging robots: the future of urban mobility
Image source Eraergy

Autonomous EV charging robots: a flexible solution for urban mobility

Even in China, where electric vehicles are a consolidated reality in urban mobility and charging infrastructure is widespread, there can be “gaps.” This is where the mobile charging robot, which is having great success in densely populated urban areas in China where fixed infrastructure is scarce, could be the solution.

These devices are, in fact, capable of autonomously navigating multi-story parking lots, reaching the vehicle exactly where it is parked. In high-density residential contexts, a single fleet of these autonomous EV charging robots can serve a potential user base of over 400 electric vehicle owners.

Portable electric vehicle charging: on-demand performance

The process is AI-driven and offers truly millimeter-level precision. Through an app, the driver signals their position, and the robot, equipped with Lidar sensors and 3D vision systems, detaches from its base. The most advanced operational models feature battery packs ranging from 100 kWh to 215 kWh, offering rapid DC charging with power outputs between 30 kW and 120 kW. This allows a car with 10% residual energy to return to optimal levels in just 40-60 minutes. Thanks to mechanical arms, the robot can manage the entire operation in full autonomy.

Autonomous EV charging robots: transforming infrastructure without invasive digging

This sort of mobile power bank, named Energy Tank and produced by Eraergy, combines storage cells with intelligent control in a charging unit that provides portable power on demand. One of the most significant competitive advantages of this device is the cost reduction. In fact, these robots only require a central storage station where they regenerate their batteries during less congested hours. Each unit is capable of charging an average of 4-6 vehicles with a single internal charging cycle. Furthermore, end-user costs remain extremely low: in pilot projects in Shanghai, tariffs are around 0.07 euros, making electric mobility even more accessible.

Portable electric vehicle charging: a future without range anxiety

The spread of these robots in China promises to reduce or eliminate a problem that is also spreading in our country: the unauthorized occupation of EV stalls by internal combustion engine cars. The integration of these systems in Europe could be the key to electrifying historical city centers where architectural constraints make it almost impossible or at least very complex to dig for new high-power cables.

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About Author / Paolo Travisi

Paolo Travisi began his journalism career in 2004 as an editor for the 7Gold television network, an extraordinary training ground where he became a professional journalist, producing TV reports on topics ranging from news to culture, and contributing to programs and talk shows hosted by figures such as Aldo Biscardi, Alessandro Milan, and David Parenzo. Alongside his television work, he started writing for the online edition of Il Messaggero, then led by Davide Desario (now Director of AdnKronos), and later contributed science, technology, and culture articles to the newspaper’s print edition. His passion for writing and science led him to collaborate with the historic TuttoScienze column in La Stampa, where he interviewed prominent Italian and international scientists. From science to sustainability, he also contributed to Green&Blue by la Repubblica. At Rinnovabili, he writes daily with great enthusiasm about electric mobility, conducts car test drives, and creates videos for the outlet’s social media channels.