The RAC is upgrading the emergency electric vehicle (EV) chargers installed in some of its patrol vehicles.
The new devices have an output of 5kW, enabling a range of 10 miles to added in around half an hour. Previously, the chargers had a 3.5kW output.
Work is also underway to develop a 7.5kW charger, which the RAC and charger manufacturer Original ADS believe will offer the “best possible” balance of cost, efficiency and charging time at the roadside.
RAC chief operations director Paul Coulton said: “Having been the first breakdown company to come up with a practical and efficient solution to giving an emergency charge to a flat EV and being the only roadside assistance company in the UK that can use this pioneering British-designed technology, we’re really excited to be speeding up the charger to 5kW so we can save members even more time. And we aren’t stopping there as a 7.5kW version is our next target.
“Even though we’re using a diesel van to recharge an electric car, we’re confident it’s faster, more efficient and better for the planet than having to send a big flatbed recovery vehicle or a van full of batteries.”
The RAC started to use the emergency chargers, known as RAC Boost, three years ago. The devices allow patrols to rescue stranded EVs without the need for time-consuming and costly recovery vehicles.
The RAC is now on track to have 200 RAC vans – around a fifth of its patrol fleet – fitted with EV Boost chargers by the end of the year with as many as 130 of those being the new faster 5kW units.
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Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
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