British automotive company Lotus has revealed a new robotic electric car charger that charges up to 500 kW at Auto Shanghai 2023.
As a demonstration, the charger showcased its ability to automatically locate a Lotus Eletre SUV’s connector and plug itself into the charging port.
The charger, which has yet to be named, will roll out as part of a fleet of 50 units across China for all EVs to use. There is still no information on whether the charger will be available in Europe.
Lotus is not the first manufacturer to launch a fast electric charger, although it is the first to introduce a robotic one. Other brands had previously launched similar fast chargers, including Chinese auto manufacturers Xpeng and Nio and the Swedish-Swiss brand ABB.
Xpeng unveiled its 480 kW charger in February alongside its G9 SUV, which became the brand’s flagship car. This vehicle, along with the P7 sports sedan, is available for purchase in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands.
Shock @lotuscars unveiling! But it's not a car – it's a robotic charging device which can top up any electric car at up to 500kW… pic.twitter.com/V82qgmG7MJ
— Autocar (@autocar) April 18, 2023
Shanghai-based automaker Nio also revealed its new 500 kW power charger at the event. Several chargers are now up and running across 12 cities in China.
Meanwhile, ABB released its Terra 360 kW chargers last year, first installed in Norway and Sweden. It is currently the fastest charger in the U.K., available at the Gridserve Electric Forecourt in Braintree, Essex.
It is also claimed to be the world’s fastest car charger, capable of fully charging an EV in under 15 minutes. It is also the only charger built exclusively to charge up to four cars at the same time.
Lotus, currently owned by Chinese car giant Geely, is likely to launch the robotic charger alongside its upcoming lineup of electric vehicles. Although there is no specific date yet, many expect the launch to coincide with the arrival of new Chinese EVs that are capable of faster charging rates.