Electric vehicle (EV) charging solution provider Alveri has presented its newest charging robot, named Charbo.
The company claims the idea for the bot began with technology-focused university TU Graz and robotics firm Arti Robots, and that the final model is now one step closer to serial production, which is planned for 2024.
The robot works by sliding along a rail and plugging in to the vehicle, with Alveri suggesting that its autonomous arm could replace as many as 20 EV charging stations, with real-world testing reportedly beginning next year with select groups.
The initial prototype Alveri presented, alongside TU Graz and Arti Robots, still required a cable to supply it with power.
However, the model can now, according to its developers, use electricity through ground contact. The rail used in later models can also reportedly span between 20 and 100 metres.
Alveri says that Charbo delivers 50kW of power and is capable of powering 20 electric cars, lined in a row, with the arm plugging in and out of the vehicles in a consecutive fashion. The company notes that this does make it time-consuming as it isn’t capable of simultaneous charging.
The main locations of interest for Alveri include multi-storey car parks or larger commercial parking areas, or anywhere else where EVs may remained parked for an extended period.
