For most electric vehicle (EV) owners, plugging in at home is a simple part of daily life. As convenient as that is, Xiaomi wants to make the EV experience even easier by removing that step entirely.
The Chinese technology giant has unveiled a robotic charging arm that can automatically connect to an EV, start a charging session, and unplug when charging is complete, bringing fully hands-free home charging one step closer to reality. Xiaomi plans to launch the charger later this year.
According to the company, the robotic arm is designed to work alongside automated parking functions, allowing drivers to simply park their vehicle and walk away. Using AI-powered vision systems, the charger identifies the vehicle’s charging port, positions the connector with high precision, and begins charging automatically.
Xiaomi says the system supports several convenience-focused features, including what it calls “lazy charging,” where charging starts automatically after parking, and automatic unplugging once a user-defined charge limit or full battery level has been reached.
The robotic arm can also be controlled remotely through a smartphone app. As long as the vehicle is parked within the charger’s operating range, owners can initiate a charging session without physically handling the cable.
The announcement immediately drew comparisons to Tesla’s infamous “snake charger,” a prototype Elon Musk revealed in 2015 and teased as late as 2020. The concept featured a flexible robotic charging connector that would extend from a wall and plug itself into a Tesla vehicle without any driver intervention.
While Tesla demonstrated a working prototype, the project never came to fruition, with the company later shifting its focus toward wireless charging technologies for future autonomous vehicles like the Cybercab.
Xiaomi however isn’t the only company working on developing a robotic charger, as several automakers and charging providers are pursuing similar solutions. Li Auto has confirmed it is testing its own charging robot, while Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA) previously demonstrated an automated charging system for the Aito M8. Charging provider Star Charge has also developed a robotic charging solution called Armstrong, capable of automatically connecting to vehicles and supporting ultra-fast charging, reports CarNewsChina.
Outside China, automakers are exploring broader applications for the technology. Hyundai has been testing automated charging robots at airports and other public locations, while some companies are evaluating ceiling-mounted robotic systems capable of serving multiple vehicles in commercial parking facilities.
Whether Xiaomi’s robotic charger becomes a mainstream accessory may ultimately depend on pricing. The company has yet to announce how much the system will cost, but with most EV charging taking place at home, a reasonably priced automated charger could appeal to drivers looking to remove one more task from their daily routine.
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