MOLE – Expanding the UK’s EV Charging Infrastructure via Efficient, Reliable, Autonomous Charging Technology

我们相信电动汽车充电的未来是自主的，而不是手动的。随着充电速度的提高，目前通常复制手动液体加油基础设施的手动充电提供的用户体验越来越差(例如，插头加热需要液体冷却，变得更重，更容易损坏、破坏和安全问题)。传统的手动充电器会造成街道混乱，它们的部署遇到了利益相关者的抵制。此外，新冠肺炎疫情带来了与手动操作相关的新的感染风险。MOLE是一种自主的、地下的、导电的电动汽车充电技术。与感应/无线技术(竞争对手最先进的技术)相比，Mole提供了更高效、更灵活和可扩展的系统。我们的整洁充电器安装在地下，可以避免旅行危险-商业车队在工作场所提供更好的健康和安全；住宅城市充电根据专家的建议改善步行能力(伦敦市长的电动汽车基础设施工作组，2020)。与传统的手动充电器相比，最小的街道杂乱增加了价值，例如拖尾电线，以及与手动连接相关的安全问题。在所有使用案例中，我们的创新都通过ZEV充电基础设施增强了用户体验。在这个项目中，我们建议进一步开发我们的技术，用于电动汽车车队充电的使用案例，以及公共(街道)充电应用。在这两个使用案例中，将鼹鼠充电器部署在地下和室外的能力将至关重要地帮助实现电动汽车的普及。通过这项创新的发展，我们的目标是在英国电动汽车充电基础设施的扩张中发挥重要作用。

We believe the future of EV charging is autonomous rather than manual. As charging speeds increase, manual charging, which currently often replicates manual liquid refuelling infrastructure, offers progressively poor user experience (e.g., plugs heat up requiring liquid cooling, becoming heavier and more vulnerable to damage, vandalism and safety concerns). Conventional manual chargers cause street clutter and their deployment meets stakeholder resistance. Furthermore, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought new infection risks associated with manual operation.MOLE is an autonomous, underbody, conductive EV charging technology. MOLE provides a more efficient, flexible and scalable system compared to inductive/wireless technology (competitor state-of-the-art). Being installed underground, our clutter-free chargers avoid trip hazards - for commercial fleets delivering better health and safety in the workplace; and for residential urban charging improving walkability in line with expert recommendations (London Mayor's EV Infrastructure Taskforce, 2020). Minimal street clutter adds value compared to conventional manual chargers e.g., trailing wires, and safety issues related to manual connection. In all use cases, our innovation enhances user experience with ZEV charging infrastructure.In this project, we propose to further develop our technology for use cases in EV fleet charging, as well as public (on-street) charging applications. In both these use cases, the ability to deploy the MOLE charger underground and outdoor will crucially assist with enabling uptake of electric vehicles. Through the development of this innovation, we aim to play a significant role in the expansion of the UK's EV charging infrastructure.