Swiss technology and engineering company ABB has unveiled an all-in-one electric vehicle (EV) charger capable of recharging a car’s battery sufficient for 100km range in just three minutes, or a full charge in 15 minutes or less.
Suited to service station installation, the charger can refuel four vehicles at once, which means if another car is already charging, a driver does not have to wait their turn – unless there are already four cars connected, of course.
ABB says the terminal – called the Terra 360 – will be available in Europe late this year before being released in the US, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific next year.
A lack of charging infrastructure is said to be holding back EV sales in some markets – especially those with large rural hinterlands. City authorities in Europe and Australia are dedicating charging spaces in city streets – and some local bodies are eyeing legislation to ensure new homes are constructed with EV-charging facilities alongside regular power supply. But in many parts of the Americas and Asia-Pacific where consumers may be willing to make the switch to more environmentally friendly electric vehicles, the practical challenge of recharging away from home remains a barrier.
“Governments across the Asia Pacific are doubling down on electric vehicles to combat climate change, but securing consumer buy-in is a long-haul journey,” says Kumail Rashid, e-mobility division lead at ABB APAC.
ABB, a high-profile sponsor of the Formula E world motor racing championship, is committed to being part of the global movement to scale up EV-charging infrastructure. Rashid says the company wants to make EV ownership easier, accessible, and more convenient as a crucial step towards achieving a zero-emission mobility future.
ABB chief communications and sustainability officer Theodor Swedjemark says the company has committed to converting all of its fleet of more than 10,000 vehicles to run on emission-free energy.
“With road transport accounting for nearly a fifth of global CO2 emissions, e-mobility is critical to achieving the Paris climate goal.”
As well as being suited to service stations, convenience stores and retail locations, the Terra 360 can be installed on a company’s commercial premises to serve its own fleet of cars, vans and trucks.
The fast EV charger is wheelchair accessible for drivers with disabilities, and an ergonomic cable-management system means cars can be connected with minimal effort.
ABB already provides EV charging and electrification solutions across the Asia Pacific, including in Singapore, Japan, Indonesia and Vietnam. In Singapore, ABB provides technology for recharging electric buses. To date, the company has sold more than 460,000 EV chargers in more than 88 markets. You can read more about the company’s EV-charging technology here.
Meanwhile, Shell says it is planning to introduce 50,000 EV charging points across the UK, another sign of the growing commercial scale of publicly available recharging stations.
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