- Automatic plugging in, unplugging, and remote control
- Xiaomi Auto is reportedly the first to bring the technology to market
- It will only be compatible with Xiaomi’s electric vehicles
Back in 2014, Elon Musk took to Twitter to state that the company was working on a robotic EV charging solution that “automatically moves out from the wall & connects like a solid metal snake.”
Fast-forward a year, and Tesla actually showcased a functional prototype (the video is still on YouTube), but the project failed to materialize.
Despite not officially being dead, there’s a high chance Tesla’s slithering metal snake charger is too complicated, too expensive, and perhaps too “out there” to bring to market.
The company also scrapped its plans to unveil a wireless charging solution for Tesla charging at home.
However, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is pursuing an automated robotic charging system for (presumably) wealthy SU7 and YU7 owners in China, as it has just unveiled a unit that’s compact enough to reside in a residential garage and literally takes the heavy lifting out of charging.
According to its maker, the robotic charging arm automatically initiates charging. Owners can simply park and walk away without needing to issue any commands or perform manual operations, Car News China reports.
Once the charging session is complete, the robot will then automatically unplug the charging connector and house it neatly away in its own storage unit.
There’s also the option for users to initiate a charge via a smartphone, so long as the vehicle is parked within reach of the telescopic arm. This eliminates the need for owners to physically be near a vehicle
There is currently no word on price, although the short promotional video released by Xiaomi appeared to show a ‘production-ready’ product in a real-world setting, meaning the technology will likely go on sale in China in a matter of months.
Analysis: are unwieldy cables on the way out?
Only recently, Porsche announced its wireless charging pad for the Cayenne electric, which allows owners to drive over it and seamlessly charge the vehicle without the need to touch often dirty, heavy EV cables that spend their lives outdoors.
In China, it appears that a number of companies are already working on solutions that mean customers won’t have to get their hands dirty, as Aito showcased its Aito M8 pure-electric version using a robotic arm to charge last year.
Fellow Chinese automotive manufacturer Li Auto also stated last year that it was working on robotic charging arms, although its solution is designed to make its public charging network more convenient to use.
Given that modern electric vehicles are already equipped with the sensors and technology needed to communicate with a robotic charging arm, it seems logical that this could be the next step toward futuristic, seamless charging.
The ability to simply pull up at a charging stall and walk away from the car while cutting-edge tech takes care of the rest would be another — admittedly very expensive and complex — unique selling point for electric propulsion in general.
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