Continental reveals charging tech to allow EV drivers to use any plug

Continental’s AllCharge tech would allow EV drivers to use any existing AC or DC plug to recharge their car

A new universal charging technology is set allow future electric cardrivers to use any cable-based charging station to recharge the batteries in their car.

Tech and tyre company Continental has launched two new charging systems for electric cars at this years Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The Continental AllCharge system is said to serve as a “universal pass key” that will allow future EV drivers to use any cable-based charging station.

The AllCharge system would be supplied by Continental to vehicle manufacturers who would incorporate the tech into their models. Continental is planning to start production of the AllCharge in 2022.

Current charging technology involves converting alternating current (AC) from the grid into direct current (DC) to charge the battery. The conversion from AC to DC currently takes place in either the charging station (DC charging) or on-board the vehicle (AC charging), with fast DC charging stations more expensive to build.

This has resulted in a number of different charging standards across different vehicles. To allow future electric cars to recharge from any station, Continental’s engineers have adapted the electric motor and the inverter to enable them to support the task of charging by adding a DC/DC converter that ensures power flows to the battery at the optimal voltage level. This allows the system to use both AC and DC charging stations without issue.

Source: Autoexpress