Volkswagen, in partnership with Bosch, is revolutionizing electric vehicle charging through the testing of an autonomous parking and charging system. Aimed at optimizing large parking lots with EV charging stations, the German automaker envisions a future where electric cars seamlessly navigate to available charging spaces, thanks to a combination of autonomous driving and charging robots.
Cariad, Volkswagen’s software subsidiary, and Bosch are conducting trials at two German parking lots, automating the process of directing driverless electric cars to vacant parking spaces with charging infrastructure. The charging robot then autonomously charges the vehicle before it intelligently moves to another open spot, streamlining the charging process.
This innovation addresses common challenges in EV charging today, including long queues at charging stations, issues with power cable disconnection leading to blocked charging spots, and the manual handling of cables. Bosch and Cariad believe this technology could reshape the future of electric vehicle infrastructure.
Simultaneously, Volkswagen is taking a leap into the world of artificial intelligence by announcing plans to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its vehicles. Set to debut in the second quarter of 2024 across all VW models, including electric ID family vehicles, this chatbot aims to enhance the in-car voice assistant, IDA (Intelligent Drive Assistant).
VW envisions a naturalistic car-to-driver communication facilitated by ChatGPT, allowing vehicle owners to effortlessly control basic functions like heating and air conditioning or seek answers to general queries. This feature will initially roll out in Europe, with plans for a subsequent launch in the United States.
Crucially, VW emphasizes user privacy and convenience, assuring customers that the integration of ChatGPT won’t require new accounts or app installations. The chatbot activation is as simple as a greeting or a press of a button on the steering wheel. To address data protection concerns, VW assures users that questions and answers are promptly deleted, maintaining a high level of privacy for drivers utilizing this cutting-edge technology.
