Continental invests in automatic charging robots (and join forces with IVECO on data management solutions)

Continental has recently signed a partnership with German startup Volterio in order to jointly develop automatic charging robots for electric vehicles. More into details, Continental Engineering Services (CES) is developing an intelligent charging robot that will make filling up with electricity much easier and more convenient in the future, while Volterio is expected to develop the first near-production systems for the jointly designed charging robot by mid-2022. Volume production of the system is planned for 2024 and will take place in Germany.

Continental automatic charging robots: the components

The fully automatic charging solution comprises two components: one unit in the underbody of the vehicle and another on the garage floor. As soon as the vehicle is parked, the two components connect automatically via a smart system, which among other options is controlled via ultra-broadband – a radio-based communication technology for short-range data transmission. A practical advantage of this is that the vehicle does not have to be parked accurately. The charging robot corrects for deviation of up to 30 centimeters from the ideal parking position. In addition, it is irrelevant what angle a vehicle is positioned in relation to the floor unit.

The innovative charging solution is initially provided for use in private households with a suitable rating of 22 kW alternating current. The solution is a retrofit, so it can be retrofitted in existing model variants of vehicles. In a second step, a fast charging solution for public areas that can be retracted into the ground will be developed, for example for parking garages, filling stations or factory areas with a charging capacity of more than 50 kW direct current. This also includes corresponding variants, for example for fleet management of commercial vehicles.

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An agreement with IVECO on TIS-Web fleet management software

Continental has also communicated another relevant agreement, this time with IVECO, with the aim of promoting tachograph data management solutions. By integrating the functionalities and driver data of Continental’s TIS-Web fleet management software into IVECO’s fleet management services, the two mobility players enable fleet managers to fully comply with the legal requirements of the new EU Mobility Package from 2022 onwards. Initially, IVECO will actively promote TIS-Web integration to its Italian, German and Spanish customers with plans to roll out the service Europe-wide further down the line.

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TIS-Web allows fleet managers to monitor their drivers and vehicles. They can not only archive the respective data in accordance with European legal requirements, but also access statistics on all drivers and truck activities and use a range of reports for optimizing driving style and efficiently managing drivers’ daily tasks. At the touch of a button, TIS-Web fleet managers can check compliance with the regulations for driving and rest periods as well as speeds and receive information on infringements at a glance. The tachograph data will be downloaded via the IVECO telematics device and routed through the IVECO back-end directly into TIS-Web.

«Continental’s TIS-Web application perfectly complements our fleet management services and adds real value for fleet managers, especially in terms of compliance. It’s great that we can now offer our customers this additional service with seamless data integration between IVECO and Continental platforms», commented Fabrizio Conicella, Global Head of Digital & Adv Technologies at IVECO.