UK startup ZipCharge has launched the design a hub to provide low cost and easy access for charging electric vehicles.

The company is developing the Go battery powerbank with integrated charger that allows vehicles to be easily charged without the need for charging points.

The GoHub provides a central point for charging Go packs that fits in a space in a car park. The Hub holds up to 13kWh of energy using second life batteries from car makers and old Go packs which is charged during the night at low cost. This also uses the same 7.2kW, 32A charger used in the Go packs, allowing the Hub to be powered from a conventional AC powerline. This avoids the need for costly three phase high voltage connections, says Jonathan Carrier, co-founder of ZipCharge.

The hub can also use energy from solar panels or wind turbines on the roof, and ZipCharge has a deal with Flower Turbines in the Netherlands for the small turbines.

ZipCharge has designed its own high efficiency chargers using silicon carbide MOSFETs and is in discussions with contract manufacturers for the boards and battery makers for the cells. It has also developed its own battery management system, and expects the packs to be in volume manufacturing in 2023 with C samples in September.

The packs also include an automotive-grade 4G modem for control and allowing them to be used for energy balancing applications by linking to the power grid.  

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