Credit: Jack Bowers/Charged EVs
Volkswagen anticipates that they will have electric vehicles with 500 km range in the foreseeable future. Charging the large capacity batteries required, in a practical time frame, will require fast chargers. VW is considering charging rates of 80 to 150 kW, possibly higher. They anticipate that such charging rates will require thick cables, & liquid cooling may be necessary. Liquid cooled cables will dissipate heat more effectively & so allow faster charging, but will be thicker, heavier, & less flexible. Just one more reason to use a robot to automate the process.
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/volkswagen-working-on-automated-dc-charging/
News flash: Tesla has already solved fast charging, with its Supercharger network charging at up to 135 kW. Liquid cooled cables? Tesla has found they can be thinner & more flexible. They have one installed at their Mountain View Supercharger location. See image above.
https://chargedevs.com/newswire/teslas-liquid-cooled-supercharger-cable-could-enable-faster-charge-times/
Tesla has a prototype robotic metal snake charger.
All of which adds a bit of perspective to this article:
http://blog.caranddriver.com/the-continental-cracks-form-in-the-tesla-story-as-germans-assemble-luxury-ev-assault/
“They don’t even know what they don’t know ...”? Maybe because they haven't invented it yet. / Volkswagen automated DC charging EV drivers more range new set of challenges batteries hold more energy consumers longer charging times higher charging power levels thicker water liquid-cooled charging cables Volkswagen range of more than 500 km foreseeable future charging quick convenient Wolfsburg automated DC charging system e-smartConnect next generation higher-capacity batteries charging levels 80 to 150 kW even higher rapid DC charging technology use of thick cables press release weight and stiffness cables difficult to handle research goal e-smartConnect project automatically couple a DC connector automated parking feature Kuka industrial robot hook up DC connector profile data charging station vehicle’s automated parking system where it should park recharging charge recharge range LiIon lithium ion Tesla’s liquid-cooled Supercharger cable enable faster charge times Tesla liquid-cooled cable Supercharger system liquid cooling cable thinner more flexible /
