Category Sponsor: COMSOL
Headline Sponsor: Distrupol
Judges' Quote: "Addressing a serious problem, Charge Pod has sought to meet a distinct need that will only become more important as we move into the age of electric vehicles"
The global electric vehicle market was valued at $118,864.5 million in 2017 and is projected to reach $567,299.8 million by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 22.3% from 2018 to 2025. This upsurge of electric vehicles presents an enormous amount of opportunity for companies to address the increasingly prevalent problem of EVs running out of charge before they are able to reach a static charging station.
The fact there is no jerrycan solution for EVs is particularly alarming if we consider the current statistics of internal combustion engine drivers breaking down due to lack of fuel. For instance, last year the UK alone recorded 827,000 cases of breakdowns because the driver had run out of fuel. Omitted from these statistics are people who may have called on friends, family or colleagues to provide a jerrycan of fuel and been topped up from the roadside that way. This means that in reality, this statistic is far higher. So, as the use of EVs is increasing it is imperative that a quick and simple solution is readily available.
It is important to have a preliminary understanding of the other solutions that are available on the market that are used to solve the problem of flat or severely depleted EVs and highlight the problems these other solutions pose to companies so that we can assess how Charge Pod is a far more suitable solution to this increasingly prevalent problem.
The EV Charge Pod is an IP-rated, CE-marked mobile electrical boost system designed and developed by Original ADS to provide flat or severely depleted electric vehicles with a roadside power boost so they can be driven to the nearest static charging point rather than being picked up and recovered on a flatbed truck. Charge Pod enables you to provide the same “out of fuel” service as you would to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles to the growing EV market.
The combined weight of all components for the Charge Pod system is just 35kg, making the system incredibly popular with fleet operators and vehicle rescue services where space and payload is a key issue.
The dimensions of the Charge Pod box are 390mm x 252 x 185mm. As the Charge Pod system only takes up a small amount of space it eliminates the need for specialised EV patrol vehicles, instead the system can be incorporated onto standard fleet vehicles that are currently in service.
The system never runs out of power itself and is always available and ready to use.
Due to the system being lightweight, compact and offering a 100% duty cycle of power, Charge Pod is extremely popular with companies who support (i.e., vehicle rescue and roadside assistance companies), transportation companies, and/or companies with storage facilities for electric vehicles (such as docks).