Re:Start, a Melbourne based clean-tech start-up that develops portable battery based emergency EV charging units, has just received a major investment in their technology from the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV).
The company plans to trial Re:Start roadside assist EV charging units in their Emergency Roadside Assist vehicles from late 2022.
Re:Start is keen to tout the benefits of its system as being two to four times faster than similar sized charging systems, as well as having a patented battery design optimised for roadside use.
Like receiving 4 litres of petrol from the Roadside Assist van – Re:Start modules are expected to give a stranded EV driver a 20km range charge in as little as six minutes, allowing an EV to quickly replenish enough ‘fuel’ to see them make it to the nearest EVSE – ranging from a 350kW DC fast-charger to the ubiquitous power point.
To quote Re:Start’s founder, Zhiduo (Duo) Zhang: “The flexibility and convenience of portable EV charging has attracted a lot of attention recently, and several companies are exploring this new technology space.
“However, I believe the technical breakthroughs developed by our team will make us a leader in the field. Our system has been built from the ground up for optimum size and weight efficiency, leveraging our patented battery and unique charger design. The modular battery system allows the platform to scale to meet any vehicle’s charging needs.”
From the perspective of the RACV, Jackie Pedersen (General Manager of Automotive Services) announced that “RACV is excited to trial the equipment in Victoria. The innovative and compact design will allow our service providers to easily support members’ mobile charging needs out in the field, just like they do today when members run out of fuel.”
Re:Start also plan in future to offer a regular and/or on-demand charging service for those who want the occasional on-site charge or can’t install home charging. That system will be an app based one where a charge module can be brought to you.
Those modules will provide 50 to 100 kms of range – with the intention for the service to be cheaper than petrol. For EV owners without home charging – they see with one or two session a week, the service can work to provide for an EV that is always charged and/or ready to make it to a DC charger and get away for a long weekend.
For more information – see https://restartev.com/
Bryce Gaton is an expert on electric vehicles and contributor for The Driven and Renew Economy. He has been working in the EV sector since 2008 and is currently working as EV electrical safety trainer/supervisor for the University of Melbourne. He also provides support for the EV Transition to business, government and the public through his EV Transition consultancy EVchoice.