Xiaomi unveiled an EV feature that Tesla promised back in 2014 but it could make charging a lot easier

Date:
Mon, 15 Jun 2026 23:00:00 +0000

Description:
Chinese tech giant unveils automatic EV charging solution

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Automatic plugging in, unplugging, and remote control Xiaomi Auto is reportedly the first to bring the technology to market It will only be compatible with Xiaomis electric vehicles Back in 2014, Elon Musk took to Twitter to state that the company
was working on a robotic EV charging solution that automatically moves out from the wall & connects like a solid metal snake.

Fast-forward a year, and Tesla actually showcased a functional prototype (the video is still on YouTube ), but the project failed to materialize. Despite not officially being dead, theres a high chance Teslas slithering metal snake charger is too complicated, too expensive, and perhaps too out there to bring to market. Latest Videos From Watch full video here:

The company also scrapped its plans to unveil a wireless charging solution
for Tesla charging at home.

However, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi is pursuing an automated robotic charging system for (presumably) wealthy SU7 and YU7 owners in China, as it has just unveiled a unit thats compact enough to reside in a residential garage and literally takes the heavy lifting out of charging. You may like This new EV battery is promising incredible six-minute charging speeds China just showed off its world-beating EV battery tech for instant charges BYD's Flash Charge is set to change people's perceptions of electric cars, according to BYD Charger prototype finding its way to Model S - YouTube Watch On According to its maker, the robotic charging arm automatically initiates charging. Owners can simply park and walk away without needing to issue any commands or
perform manual operations, Car News China reports.

Once the charging session is complete, the robot will then automatically unplug the charging connector and house it neatly away in its own storage unit. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Theres also the option for users to initiate a charge via a smartphone, so long as the vehicle is parked within reach of the telescopic arm. This eliminates the need for owners to physically be near a vehicle

There is currently no word on price, although the short promotional video released by Xiaomi appeared to show a production-ready product in a
real-world setting, meaning the technology will likely go on sale in China in a matter of months. Analysis: are unwieldy cables on the way out? Xiaomi EV robotic charging arm - YouTube Watch On Only recently, Porsche announced its wireless charging pad for the Cayenne electric, which allows owners to drive over it and seamlessly charge the vehicle without the need to touch often dirty, heavy EV cables that spend their lives outdoors. What to read next Nio says it its Power Swap stations are swapping more than 1 million EV batteries a week Android Auto just got a massive upgrade for EV route planning This Mercedes EV has the best autonomous parking feature I've ever tried

In China, it appears that a number of companies are already working on solutions that mean customers wont have to get their hands dirty, as Aito showcased its Aito M8 pure-electric version using a robotic arm to charge
last year.

Fellow Chinese automotive manufacturer Li Auto also stated last year that it was working on robotic charging arms, although its solution is designed to make its public charging network more convenient to use.

Given that modern electric vehicles are already equipped with the sensors and technology needed to communicate with a robotic charging arm, it seems
logical that this could be the next step toward futuristic, seamless
charging.

The ability to simply pull up at a charging stall and walk away from the car while cutting-edge tech takes care of the rest would be another admittedly very expensive and complex unique selling point for electric propulsion in general. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/vehicle-tech/hybrid-electric-vehicles/xiaomi-unveile d-an-ev-feature-that-tesla-promised-back-in-2014-but-it-could-make-charging-a- lot-easier


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