Volkswagen is preparing its mobile quick charging stations for electric vehicles (EVs) for a pilot scheme to debut in the first half of 2019. The goal is to be able to use the stations in public parking lots, company bays, or as a temporary installation as large events like concerts or exhibitions. They could also help decision-makers understand the best location for drivers to take advantage of a charger before installing permanent infrastructures. If the pilot is successful, the charging stations will be made available across Germany in 2020.
The mobile charging stations will provide enough energy to recharge up to 15 electric vehicles and will only require 17 minutes per car. Virtually any electric vehicle (cars, scooters, or bikes) can be charged by the system, which can deliver current to four vehicles simultaneously via two DC and two AC connections. When the energy level of the charging station falls below 20 %, the depleted system can simply be exchanged for a fully charged one. However, if connected to a 30kW AC power supply, the battery will continually recharge itself. The chargers can also temporarily store energy from renewable energy sources to keep the process CO2 neutral.
“The mobile charging stations are a decisive step toward an efficient network of charging points,” said Thomas Schmall for Volkswagen. “They can be set up anywhere as required – with or without connection to the power supply. This flexibility enables a completely new approach for the rapid expansion of the charging infrastructure. Cities can, for example, find out the most suitable places for a permanent charging point before making major investments in developing the network. In addition, it will be possible to set up a large number of charging stations temporarily – exactly when and where they are needed.”