Robot charging stations trialed by Ford in order to help disabled drivers

Filling a car with fuel or charging an electric vehicle is an easy task for most of us. However for disabled drivers, people with reduced mobility and older people, this can pose a significant challenge.

Ford has therefore developed a prototype robot charging station that drivers operate via their smartphone from inside their vehicle. This could enable disable drivers to stay in their car while charging or even leave the car whiel the robot takes over.

Disabled drivers have voiced out that ease of charging is an important factor when considering an electric car. Ford has listened and are putting the robot charging station to the test in real life situations. When activated, the station cover slides open and the charging arm extends towards the inlet with help from a tiny camera.

Drivers are then able to monitor charge status via the FordPass app. When charging has completed, the arm then retracts back into place.

Engineers are predicting that the process could become fully automated with time, with minimal to no driver involvement.