The Poznań-based Łukasiewicz Institute of Technology (Łukasiewicz-PIT) has said it will install a cluster of innovative charging stations that aim to combine sustainability with convenience while maintaining the aesthetic integrity of urban spaces.
The solution is expected to be particularly well-suited for installation in residential areas and company parking lots where space is often limited.
“This charger will be the first of its kind to be located below ground level, offering a discrete, efficient and safe charging experience’, Łukasiewicz-PIT spokesman Mateusz Domagała said.
The project is a product of Polish technological innovation, and the system’s cost is expected to be competitive with existing charging technologies, according to the Institute.
With tests expected to start in April 2025, the device is designed to be fully integrated into the surroundings, featuring only a marked lid visible at ground level.
Once the lid is lifted, the driver can pull out a cable and connect it to the vehicle for charging, which should prevent clutter and avoid obstruction to pedestrians and cyclists, a concern frequently associated with traditional above-ground charging stations.
The system will be powered by advanced AI-based software to help drivers optimise charging performance to save costs, including with the target battery level or charging time.
The innovation comes as over 130,000 fully electric cars and plug-in hybrids were registered in the country alongside some 8,000 public charging points (as of October 2024).
As the project progresses, the Łukasiewicz-PIT plans to begin mass production late next year.
However, a recent study found Poland to be the European Union’s least green country, just to mention the bloc’s joint-lowest position of electric car uptake.
Another study showed that the proportion of Poles who are prepared to make changes and sacrifices in their own lives to combat climate change decreased from 13% in 2022 to just 5% this year.
(mo)
Source: scienceinpoland.pl