General Motors is is the latest automaker to patent a robotic EV charger.
GM filed a patent application called “Robotic Charging Device” with the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on November 30, 2021, but it was only published a few weeks ago.
The app describes an automated charging process in which the charger attaches itself to an electric vehicle and then unplugs itself when charging is complete. The hardware for this would consist of a base and vertical column with an attached arm that could rotate or extend to accommodate the charging cable.
It is worth noting that the applicant for the idea is not only GM, but also GM Cruise Holdings, a autonomous driving technology company owned by the car manufacturer. Cruise CEO Kyle Vogt, who also co-founded Cruise before selling it to GM, is listed as one of the app’s inventors.
This gives a clue to the possible use of this robotic charger design. Robotic charging will probably be needed for self-driving cars, which won’t always have a driver to plug them in. The app even discusses using an autonomous vehicle’s sensors to locate the charging cable.
Boating launched a robotaxi service In early 2022 in San Francisco with a modified Chevrolet Bolt EV hatchback fleet. It plans to stick with EVs and eventually add a dedicated vehicle known as the Origin. So Cruise should definitely consider EV charging on a large scale. Automated charging has other potential benefits, including making electric vehicles more practical for people with mobility issues. That promise has led other automakers to experiment with robotic chargers.
Automated charging has other potential benefits, including making electric vehicles more practical for people with mobility issues. That promise has led other automakers to experiment with robotic chargers.
Hyundai recently introduced the prototype electric charging robot installed at the automaker’s R&D center in South Korea, and Stellantis introduced the mobile inductive charging robot at this year’s CES alongside the Ram 1500 Revolution BEV concept. Tesla showed the snake-like robotic charging prototype in 2015, but took no further steps towards its application.
This article was originally published by Motor Authorityeditorial partner ClassicCars.com
