How much easier can charging get? Hyundai and Kia want to make it effortless with their new robot that automatically charges your EV.
Hyundai sets up robot EV charger service in Korea
If cars can drive themselves, why can’t robots automatically charge your EV? That may soon be a reality after Hyundai Motor showcased its new automatic charging robots (ACRs) in Korea.
Hyundai and Kia set up a demo site at the Incheon International Airport as part of a new business agreement. Through the agreement, Hyundai (and Kia) will work with the airport to establish an automatic robot EV charging service.
Since Incheon International Airport has already electrified its entire fleet and plans to have 1,110 chargers by 2026, it is the perfect spot to test it out.
The companies will use the demo site as a “stepping stone” with plans to expand into additional airports, seaports, railways, and other transportation hot spots.
Hyundai Motor’s head of R&D said the project is “a significant milestone in verifying the practical benefits” of robotic EV charging.
Although several other companies, like Tesla and RAM (remember the Ram Charger?), have teased robot EV chargers in the past, Hyundai is one of the first to put them into action.
Hyundai first introduced its automatic charging robot in 2023. Using a 3D camera system and AI, the robot will automatically find and plug into the vehicle’s charge port.
When you’re done, it will remove the charger and close the cover. Check out the video above to see how it works on the IONIQ 6.
The company expects that automatic charging robots will “significantly increase” the convenience of EV charging. With autonomous parking, the robots can charge several parked vehicles at the same time.
Will we see Hyundai’s robot EV chargers rolling around global airports in the future? It could soon be a reality.
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