Austrian companies Keba and Easelink have entered into a collaboration to introduce automated charging solutions for electric vehicles in residential settings. Customers purchasing Keba wall boxes now have the option to incorporate Easelink’s Matrix Charging, streamlining the charging process upon parking their electric vehicles.
Easelink’s automated charging system involves a connector plate positioned on the vehicle’s underbody and a stationary charging pad installed in the parking space. Upon parking, the charging plate descends onto the pad, establishing a conductive charging connection. This setup, resembling a wireless solution, is noted for its lower energy transfer losses.
The integration of Easelink’s Matrix Charging into Keba’s offerings encompasses classic wall boxes for new customers and retrofit options for existing clients. Importantly, the addition of the charging pad and plates is designed not to impact the regular cable-based charging functionality.
Beyond convenience, both companies view automated charging as an avenue to integrate electric vehicles seamlessly into the power grid. Once the vehicle is parked above the charging pad, it automatically links to the power grid. Smart charging management can then determine whether the electric vehicle should initiate charging or serve as a backup for the electricity network.
Gerhard Weidinger, CTO of Keba Energy Automation, emphasizes the potential of this automated charging process, stating, “The automation of the charging process and the almost continuous connection between the electric car and the home electrical system offers tremendous potential.” This potential extends to optimizing charging with surplus photovoltaic power, aiding grid stabilization, and enabling bidirectional charging, known as vehicle-to-home (V2H).
While specific pricing details for new clients or the retrofit option remain undisclosed, the collaboration holds significant promise. Keba wall boxes, having been sold over 500,000 times, present a substantial market reach. Easelink, known for its technology deployed in recharging 60 electric taxis in Vienna, counts energy giants EnBW and Wien Energie among its initial investors.
Expressing enthusiasm for the collaboration, Gregor Eckhard, COO of Easelink, highlights the strength brought by Keba’s industry expertise and deep competence. He views Keba’s involvement as a reinforcement of Matrix Charging technology, positioning it as a potential interoperable charging standard in the future.
