To say Volkswagen has ambitious plans for electric vehicles may be an understatement. The automaker projects it will produce 15 million vehicles on its new MEB platform in the first wave of its EV assault, and it will invest 9 billion euros in the new VW I.D. family through 2023. The namesake brand will have 20 electric models in its lineup by 2025, up from just two entries now. To support this barrage of new EVs, Volkswagen is getting ready to introduce mobile quick charging stations.
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The charging columns are based on the battery pack used with the automaker's MEB platform. These stations can be set up in public parking lots, at a company building, or at large events, then removed if no longer needed. VW says the charging process takes an average of 17 minutes. With a battery storage capacity of 360 kilowatt-hours, each station can charge up to 15 electric vehicles. As many as four vehicles can be charged at the same time, two with DC quick-charging connections and two with AC connections. Charging stations that have depleted their energy storage would be exchanged for new ones.
When linked up to a power supply, however, the mobile station can be recharged constantly. The charging stations can be juiced up via solar or wind energy, providing C02 neutrality. Furthermore, VW suggests reusing batteries from electric vehicles to power the stations.
VW hopes the flexibility provided by the temporary stations will accelerate the development of the charging infrastructure. "The mobile charging stations are a decisive step toward an efficient network of charging points," said Thomas Schmall, chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Group Components, in a release. "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."
The first mobile charging stations will appear in Wolfsburg, Germany, in a pilot project as early as the first half of 2019. From 2020, the charging stations will spread to other cities.
Source: Volkswagen
When I tell people I write about cars, the most common reply I receive is “Really?” I guess I never strike people as a car type as I drive down the freeway in the right lane going 60 mph in my old SUV. My gripes about driving in city traffic and fast drivers don’t help my case, either. For a time, the only cars I liked were old cars. Not old as in "classic" or "vintage," but as in well-worn. My first appreciation of cars came when I drove a very old Ford pickup. It wasn't perfect: I used a booster seat to reach the gas pedal, and the turn signal once fell off in my hand as I was learning to drive. But the thing I valued most was the memories. It took several years for me to truly become a "car person." Being a long-time writer and an avid reader has helped me develop a healthy curiosity and a desire to know how things work. This has made cars one of the most fascinating points of study for me because they are such intricate machines. I am interested in how cars can reach 200 mph, how they can run on hydrogen, and how they can drive and park on their own. I also enjoy learning how cars can solve problems whether it be in the form of reducing pollution, minimizing traffic, or helping people stay connected on the road. Yes, maybe I’m not a gearhead. Perhaps I’m a car nerd. Either way, I very much enjoy writing about cars and helping people stay in tune with the automotive industry. I wouldn't want to be writing about anything else. And don’t get me wrong: I know how to drool over a hot car. I am fascinated by the Tesla Model S, awed by the Lamborghini Veneno, and am hopelessly obsessed with the Audi R8.
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