The RAC’s ‘EV Boost’ system for Charging electric cars on the roadside will be installed in more of the breakdown organization’s vans after signing an exclusivity agreement with Original ADS, which helped develop the technology.
This means that the RAC will be the only roadside assistance service to transport the EV Boost system, which was first installed on a trial basis in some of its vans as early as 2019. The RAC now plans to install EV Boost units in 200 patrol cars by the end of the year, and another 120 by the end of 2022.
In total, every fifth van in the organization will then be equipped with an EV boost unit that can charge stranded electric cars at speeds of up to 5 kW. The RAC has confirmed that development of a faster 7.5 kW EV boost unit is already underway.
James Knight, Chief Operations Director of the RAC, said of the newly signed agreement, “We were very proud to be the first breakdown service to bring a large-scale solution to the market to help uncharged EV drivers, and we are even more excited to be the only roadside assistance company in the UK that can take advantage of this breakthrough UK technology. “
“We believe it’s faster, more efficient, and better for the planet than having to send a large flatbed recovery vehicle or a van full of batteries,” added Knight.
The EV Boost system is powered by a generator powered by the van’s engine, weighs just 35 kg and is the size of a shoebox. It’s not designed to fully charge an electric car, but it has enough range to move you off the curb and reach a more powerful charging point nearby.
Compatible with Type 1 and Type 2 connectionsThe EV Boost system can currently support almost every electric vehicle on the road. The RAC hopes that this technology will provide drivers with safety Range fear: the fear of getting out of reach before reaching a destination or a charging station.
Electric cars usually cannot be towedas this can damage their motors. Without a remote charging system – as adopted by the RAC – a low loader is usually required to remove exhausted electric cars from the curb.
However, the RAC has also developed what is known as an “all-wheel-up” recovery system in the event that an electric car breaks down. Knight describes it as “like a bunk in the back of a RAC van”.
