Continental is preparing to revolutionize the way electric vehicles are charged at home. Together with the Austrian startup Volterio, Continental Engineering Services (Ces) is developing an intelligent charging robot that will make refueling wirelessly much easier and more convenient in the future. The fully automatic charging robot combines the convenience of a wireless charger with the speed of a wired connection. The solution consists of a socket mounted under the vehicle and a robotic charger installed on the floor (most likely in the home garage).
Operation is simple: the vehicle owner simply has to park on top of the charger to automatically start the charging process. The two units communicate their exact position while the floor-mounted charging robot is able to correct a deviation of up to 30cm from the ideal parking position according to Volterio. In addition, the conical design of the connector allows for any alignment and orientation between the two units. The solution will initially be aimed at private individuals and will provide up to 22 kW of power. The two companies plan to subsequently extend the solution to car parks, charging stations and workplaces where there is a fleet of electric vehicles. Continental and Volterio are also working on a version with fast charging at 50 kW. Serial production of the system is scheduled for 2024 in Germany.