Xiaomi debuts a hands-free robotic arm that charges your electric vehicle automatically

Xiaomi wants to make EV ownership a bit more convenient for its customers. The company recently shared a demonstration video of a home charging robotic arm that can autonomously plug and unplug a charging gun, meaning EV owners may never have to bend down and fiddle with a cable again.

The good thing is the robotic arm can fit into tight home parking spaces, thanks to a slim 152mm body width. You can then control it remotely through a smartphone.

The robotic arm is a part of Xiaomi’s growing portfolio

The robotic arms join the growing portfolio of home charging products from Xiaomi. The company offers home charging piles in 7kW and 11kW models. 

The 7kW home charging station is compact at 400mm x 180mm x 120mm, runs on 220V single-phase power, and comes with a lightweight 640g charging gun. Its bigger sibling, the 11kW model, shares the same physical dimensions but steps up to 380V three-phase power input and carries a slightly heavier 770g charging gun. 

For those who need something more portable, Xiaomi also offers the Mijia Car Portable Charger and Discharge Gun. It doubles as both a charger and a discharger with a charging output of 2.8kW and a discharge output of 3.5kW, all running off standard 220V household power.

Xiaomi’s interest in automated EV charging isn’t new. When the company unveiled its Xiaomi Pilot Technology autonomous driving solution, automatic robotic arm charging was already listed as one of its planned features alongside autonomous valet parking. The new home charging arm looks like that vision finally taking physical form for everyday home use. 

Xiaomi Auto Technology also previously received approval for an EV charging system patent from the Chinese Intellectual Property Organization (CNIPO). And in a separate direction, the company filed a patent for a wireless EV charging system involving an autonomous cargo vehicle that would drive up to an EV needing a charge and connect automatically. 

No pricing or availability details for the robotic arm have been announced yet, but given Xiaomi’s track record of competitive pricing on its EV accessories, it will be worth watching when the product moves from demo to market.

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