Automotive provider Bosch and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Cariad are demonstrating tech that enables EVs to park and cost themselves.
Introduced at CES 2024, Bosch is combining a previously-shown automated parking system with a charging robotic that robotically plugs into the automobile as soon as it is positioned in a parking area. As soon as it is completed charging, the automobile will then transfer itself to a different area in order that it does not block the charger, in accordance with a Bosch press launch.
Volkswagen Cariad and Bosch automated parking and EV charging
Testing is underway at Bosch’s “growth parking storage” in Ludwigsburg, Germany, the discharge mentioned. The automated parking part can be being examined sans charging on the Cariad workers storage in Ingolstadt, with vehicles driving themselves to and from parking areas, however with out plugging in.
Bosch considers its automated parking system to offer SAE Degree 4 autonomy, that means vehicles can drive themselves underneath sure situations. The corporate has been testing the system at a parking storage at Stuttgart Airport in Germany (with Mercedes-Benz) for a couple of yr, and plans to increase to different websites in Germany as effectively.
Mercedes-Benz and Bosch automated valet parking at Stuttgart Airport
Along with Bosch’s demonstrations, there have been a number of different tasks involving automated charging and probably self-driven automobiles—however it’s all appeared like early-stage work whereas these concepts could finally be production-bound. As Ford has identified with one in every of its robotic charging assessments, it isn’t only for comfort however a matter of accessibility for disabled drivers who could not be capable to deal with cumbersome charging cables.
SAE methodology launched late final yr lastly set the identical language for pad alignment for inductive charging, so that will more and more be an possibility. Conversely, Ram has proven a Ram Charger inductive charging robotic that might permit fast-charging to robotically go to the automobile, quite than having the automobile drive itself to the charger.
