Automated robot-based charging system for electric vehicles

With the rising number of electric and hybrid vehicles the demand for customerfriendly and innovative solutions for the charging infrastructure is growing steadily. Furthermore, future autonomous driving and parking vehicles are calling for new approaches regarding to battery charging. Nowadays electric vehicles have to be charged by hand. In other words, someone has to connect the charging cable with the charging socket of the vehicle. This paper deals with automated charging systems for electric vehicles. In order to realize tethered charging a fully automated system supports the complete process. The first part of work explains advantages of automated conductive charging systems regarding to other automated concepts and why such systems are needed. The second part deals with an investigation of the state of art. Thereby it is evidenced which systems are already developed and published. Afterwards, challenges and problems behind automated conductive systems are shown. Thereby the individual problems are analysed and illustrated. Finally, an initial concept for automated charging station is presented and discussed as a solution charging multiple and various types of vehicles at public parking facilities.