A CHARGER PROPOSAL FROM RHEINMETALL

By Éric Descarries

If we are to achieve the goal of replacing almost all internal combustion engine vehicles with electric vehicles, we need to install a sufficient number of charging stations. The latter, however, are large, expensive and, above all, take up a lot of space.

Rheinmetall, an industrial company specializing in electronic systems (with a branch in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Québec), may have a practical solution. The company is currently experimenting with curb-mounted chargers in Cologne, Germany.

These 22 kWh chargers are designed to be connected to existing circuits, but cost a fraction of the price of today’s chargers. Several versions are currently being tested (we’re guessing that Rheinmetall will have to adapt the design of its connectors to local climatic conditions). However, this type of charger would only be useful for fairly long recharges, such as overnight charging, and the vehicle owner would have to provide his or her own cable. Finally, Rheinmetall assures us that it has tested the charger for safe handling.