Many drivers will experience early charging troubles as EV usage increases, which is different from driving to the petrol station. However, most people find the process to be relatively easy. Others, though, might require a bit more help, including disabled drivers.
Therefore, Ford Motor Company is now testing a robotic EV charger system that fewer mobile individuals can activate from their phones without exiting the vehicle to address this issue. This solution offers a new level of inclusion that the EV community appreciates.
In addition to its recent full acceptance of electric vehicles, Ford has been working to improve other aspects of EV transportation. Large expenditures on battery technologies, such as solid-state and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, are part of this.
EVs genuinely are for everyone, and Ford has expressed a similar feeling in its most recent pilot scheme, which is testing a robotic charger to aid disabled drivers in seamlessly charging their EVs. Ford recently posted feel-good video footage of a robotic EV charger being tested in a press release.
The charging station itself was custom manufactured at Dortmund University in Germany, where real-world testing followed early lab experiments. The design lets a car pull up to the station and activate it with their smartphone. This causes the station cover to slide open, allowing space for a robotic charging arm to stretch towards the EV intake and connect through a small camera. Then, the driver can either wait in their vehicle or exit and use their FordPass app to track the charging status. When the charging is finished, the arm retracts and closes on its own.
According to Ford, disabled drivers have already identified the simplicity of charging as a motivation for EV purchase considerations compared to standard gas stations. Therefore, in addition to testing robotics to assist less mobile Ford drivers, the research will be used to develop alternative hands-free charging solutions.
It’s encouraging to see a leading carmaker like Ford considering potential issues for disabled drivers before EVs become commonplace. Ford believes that after testing in Germany is completed; its robotic EV charging stations will be able to be installed in disabled parking places.
However, the company is currently working on a follow-up project with IONITY in which it will seek to develop the robotic charging station further before implementing it on an existing EV network.