Shropshire company launches first fully portable EV charging unit
The world's first totally portable electric vehicle charging unit is being launched onto the market by a Shropshire company, sparking huge interest from manufacturers, dealerships and roadside assistance organisations.
Charging Solutions, based near Shrewsbury, has unveiled EVRESCUE – a unique 4kW or 10kW standalone power source. Last week, the Department of Transport confirmed the unit would also attract grant funding under the Government's Plugged-In Places scheme.
The revolutionary EV unit will remove the need to transport a vehicle which has run out of power via tow-truck to the nearest dealership or re-charging point – saving both time and expense.
Managing director of Charging Solutions, James Jean-Louis, said the 4kW portable EV charging system can provide an electric vehicle with up to 15 miles of range in around 30 minutes.
He said: ““The EVRESCUE is an innovative, standalone power unit for roadside assistance, remote locations, dealerships and repair facilities. Connect it to mains power, and it acts as an EV charger for showrooms, car maintenance and distributors, exhibitions and forecourt, providing flexible portable power without the need for fixed charging points.”
“As the electric vehicle market develops, the need for a mobile transportable energy source is becoming more important, not only to reduce range anxiety but also to provide a temporary cost-effective power for electric cars.
“EVRESCUE is unique in that it offers a flexible, available and mobile power source, whether that's at the side of a road in an emergency or in a car showroom. This is the only totally portable EV charger in the world – it does not require the unit to be loaded onto a trailer.”
Easy to use, with rugged controls and a power level display showing remaining energy, Mr Jean-Louis said the EVRESCUE offers a cost-effective charging solution for recovery specialists, fleet management companies and vehicle distributors.
Developed with a Type 2 socket with Mode 3 communication, it operates on Lithium ion technology and has optional additional features. These include a diagnostics communication module and a Smartphone App feature.
The communications module gives access to information on battery charge level, the number of times the unit has been connected to an EV for discharge or to the grid for recharge, and well as the date and times of both.
The Smartphone App for recovery operators includes a full list of current EVs with on board charging data per model. Recharging data giving expected miles per minute per EV model as well as expected achievable distance form the current recharge.
Mr Jean-Louis added: “The EVRESCUE can be taken to a stranded car and effectively, provides the equivalent of a gallon of electricity to get the vehicle moving again. For example, the EVRESCUE can charge the new 2012 Nissan Leaf at a rate of one minute per mile.”
