its technology in the field when it provided charging
stations to Jaguar, which needed power to support ride-
and-drive events to promote the launch of its I-PACE
electric SUV.
Taking a more simplistic and localized approach
is Berlin-based Chargery, which focuses on vehicles
dispersed in cities where the available charging is insuf-
ficient or too inconvenient. The startup uses bicycles to
tow a small trailer containing a 24 kWh battery to de-
liver charging to vehicles parked in urban areas. Power
delivery is limited to 3.7 kW, and the company claims to
be using 100% renewable energy to charge the batteries.
Chargery lists as clients BMW, Daimler and Skoda, and
has received investment from mobility services com-
pany Sixt.
Predating these efforts to make charging easier to de-
ploy and free from grid connections are solar EV char-
gers, which debuted nearly a decade ago. Envision Solar,
of San Diego, produces charging equipment that com-
bines solar power with battery storage to enable vehicles
to be plugged in without the need for a grid connection.
These portable stations, such as Envision’s EV ARC, can
provide power temporarily or permanently at a lower
cost in locations that are far from power, by alleviating
the need for costly trenching or capacity upgrades.
When EV charging stations were first rolled out,
many thought of them as destinations for refueling that
would be worth the trip. However, EV owners want
to charge wherever they normally go, which is often
in crowded areas where parking is challenging, or far
away from power sources. It may be that not all of the
above approaches to mobile charging will establish a
successful niche, but they are making valuable progress
towards the goal of bringing convenience to the expand-
ing EV audience.78
The startup uses bicycles to
tow a small trailer containing
a 24 kWh battery to deliver
charging to vehicles parked in
urban areas.
Images courtesy of Chargery