One thing that has stopped many car buyers switching to electric vehicles is the inability to charge them at a convenient location. However, ZipCharge has produced a device that could bring electric motoring to more people, and it was revealed at the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow.
Giant power bank
ZipCharge's solution is to create a portable charger, called the ZipCharge Go. The compact unit is like a power bank that you'd use to charge up a smartphone, although it has been super-sized to deliver the kind of high capacity that an electric car might need. Inside is a lithium-ion battery pack that is capable of adding more than 30 kilometres of range, depending on the car that it's charging.
Smart on-board electronics mean that when the ZipCharge Go is plugged in, the energy is carefully managed, and this means that the 30 kilometres of range can be added in just over half an hour. The on-board electronics also include an AC-DC inverter, so the Go can be charged via the mains, while it can also take energy from a vehicle, much like siphoning a fuel tank on a combustion-engined vehicle.
When connected, the ZipCharge Go is locked to the car - much like a fixed charge point - so the portable unit is secured to the car, allowing you to leave the car unattended while it's topping up.
As well as interesting tech, the ZipCharge Go offers an aesthetically pleasing charging solution. The unit is similar in size to a large suitcase, and it has wheels that make it easier to move around. The exterior design can also be tailored to suit a car colour, or a business logo can be added, while an LED-equipped power panel lets users know the Go's charge status and energy use. There is 2G and 4G phone connectivity, too, allowing users to operate the ZipCharge Go remotely.
While ZipCharge Go purchase prices have yet to be announced - and we don't know if it will be sold in Ireland - the firm will also offer a subscription service for as little as €57 a month, while some of the more advanced charging options will cost extra. ZipCharge's aim is to deliver a portable charging option for EV owners that has a similar cost to that of a fully installed level two fast mains charger.
The team behind the tech
ZipCharge is the brainchild of company co-founders Richie Sibal and Jonathan Carrier, both of whom have years of experience in the automotive industry. Sibal is a software and electronics engineer who has worked at McLaren Automotive, taxi firm LEVC, Lotus and Gordon Murray Automotive, while Carrier has experience in commercial strategy for the likes of McLaren, Mazda and Jaguar Land Rover.
Speaking about the ZipCharge Go, Carrier said: "One of the key barriers to wider uptake of EVs is charging anxiety; the inability to charge near or at home. ZipCharge removes that hurdle and in doing so, will democratise EV ownership."
Sibal is all about the engineering: "Our technical approach to engineering the Go as a lightweight, compact and safe charging solution, and then evolving that into an EV charging platform reflects our intention to combine the development of battery-based systems with the lowest future environmental impact possible."
The ZipCharge Go is scheduled to be available to buyers in the fourth quarter of 2022.