Club Assist’s priority has been focused on developing technology to supply emergency roadside charging for EVs that run out of power. Stuart Davies, President and CEO of Club Assist said the company saw the service as an extension of its current main business – supplying emergency replacement batteries for cars of motoring club members. In 2010, Club Assist supplied over 2.2 million batteries for installation in stranded conventional cars through motoring clubs from North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Electric Vehicles are the future. A report by University of California, Berkley, reveals Electric cars are forecast to comprise 63% of new light-vehicle sales by 2030. “With Electric Vehicles, a discharged car is equivalent to a conventional vehicle running out of gas. Our ‘mobile charger’ brings drivers peace of mind during a roadside emergency, even when driving an Electric Vehicle,” continued Davies. “Club Assist has a dedicated team working on Electric Vehicles to help motoring clubs deliver value to their members in this space. We’re proud to be a leading provider of knowledge and products, like our mobile EVSE.”
EVSE Performance
The ‘mobile charger’ can infuse enough charge to help the Electric Vehicle travel another five miles or so. Through Club Assist’s partnership with motoring club organizations, it is expected to be available for Electric Vehicle owners and guarantee them some peace of mind in emergencies.
“When someone runs out of fuel we don’t go out there and fill the whole tank,” stated Davies. “We fill them up just enough to get them to the next petrol station. It will be the same with Electric Vehicles. Say they need to drive 4-5 miles. We will give them enough to drive to a place where they can get a longer fast charge.” Davies said the trick to mobile charging is the ability to charge quickly and safely, using special fast-charge equipment that can withstand the rigors of life on the road.
The Technology Behind EVSE
The Club Assist portable EVSE provides up to 5.5 kW of energy. The charging is expected to take about 20 to 30 minutes. Unlike the Level 1 charging that charges the vehicle’s battery from the 120-volt outlet, Level 2 charging utilizes 208-240 volts of AC energy. In keeping with the times, Club Assist is also researching and working on better charging units that aim to further reduce charging time — to less than 10 minutes! The CHAdeMO protocol (“CHArge de MOve” or charge for moving) will be used along with a DC/DC connection and lithium-ion batteries for a cleaner and greener portable charging unit.
Club Assist Has an Established EV Charging Track Record
Recently the Melbourne-based company installed Australia’s first DC fast-charge station at the Mitsubishi Motors Australia Limited (MMAL) head office in Adelaide, where it is used to charge Mitsubishi i-MiEV company fleet and customers cars. Club Assist’s next station is expected to be installed in Sydney for the NRMA, which is trialling an i-MiEV electric car as part of Mitsubishi’s Australian field trials. Club Assist is in negotiations to install a third station in Brisbane for the RACQ.
Founded in 1991, Club Assist Pty Ltd is the largest mobile battery replacement provider in the world. Club Assist specializes in the supply, storage, distribution and installation of automotive batteries, automotive glass, alternators and starter motors to motoring clubs and their members worldwide. Club Assist partners with more than 70 motoring clubs across the globe and is supported by more than 6,000 personnel and service providers.
