EV drivers love skipping the traditional gas station, but those who charge at home still have to manually plug in their vehicles almost every night. It’s not a dealbreaker really, but consumer technology giant Xiaomi wants to eliminate that last bit of physical effort. The company demonstrated a new home charging robotic arm that automates the entire process. This device takes care of both plugging in and unplugging EVs without any human intervention. Xiaomi says it is ready to launch this automated accessory on the retail market in the fourth quarter of 2026, targeting the residential garages where most EV owners recharge.

Xiaomi fulfills an old promise that the wider automotive industry failed to deliver. More than ten years ago, Tesla chief Elon Musk promised a similar solution for electric cars, describing a metal snake charger that would automatically extend from a wall. Tesla even revealed a working prototype in 2015, but the project quietly disappeared into the corporate graveyard. Instead, Tesla shifted its focus toward wireless inductive charging for models like the Cybercab robotaxi. Xiaomi decided to stick to the physical plug concept and make it production-ready.

The physical design of the Xiaomi robotic arm is perfect for tight residential spaces. The housing measures exactly 6 inches wide, allowing it to fit easily next to vehicles in small home garages. The system uses advanced artificial intelligence vision recognition to guide the charging gun with sub-millimeter precision into the vehicle’s port. It also communicates directly with the car to trigger motorized charge port covers to open and close automatically. Owners can monitor and manage the system remotely through their smartphones, as the arm completely integrates into the brand’s existing smart home and vehicle ecosystem.

Automated mechanical arms solve a major technical issue that currently plagues wireless charging alternatives. Wireless pads remove the need for a physical cord, but they suffer from lower energy efficiency. Standard wireless inductive systems operate at an efficiency rate between 88 percent and 93 percent under perfect alignment. Direct physical plug-in systems operate at roughly 95 percent efficiency because they eliminate the air gap between the pad and the vehicle. On top of that, wireless charging under the common SAE J2954 standard generally tops out at 11 kW of power, whereas physical plugs can handle much higher rates.

Tesla prototype from 2015

For owners of modern EVs, these small percentages make a financial difference over time. Wasted energy transforms into heat and increases electricity bills over the years of daily use. A mechanical system preserves the full efficiency of a direct connection while offering the exact same convenience as a wireless system. Additionally, owners do not need to install heavy or expensive hardware inside their electric cars to make it work. The robotic arm functions perfectly with any standard charging port already built into the vehicle.

Xiaomi has not confirmed a final price for the new accessory, which will join its current lineup of 7 kW and 11 kW wallbox chargers. Price will decide whether home consumers adopt the technology. The company faces rising competition in the automated charging sector, particularly within the Chinese market. Other automakers are rushing to develop similar hands-free systems for their own premium electric cars – Li Auto announced ongoing tests for its own automatic charging robot during the launch of the Li Auto i8 electric SUV.

Similarly, the Harmony Intelligent Mobility Alliance (HIMA from Huawei) revealed an automated charging system for the Aito M8. That setup allows drivers to use an off-vehicle parking feature to send the car into a bay, where a robotic arm opens the port and inserts the plug automatically. Beyond automotive brands, independent infrastructure companies are entering the race. Star Charge introduced its own fully automatic robotic system called Armstrong – it achieves millimeter-level accuracy, connects in under 40 seconds, supports liquid-cooled ultra-fast charging, and uses a patented adapter ring to fit various global plug standards.

Chinese manufacturers focus heavily on residential solutions, and global automakers are exploring public applications for this technology. Hyundai has been testing its own automatic charging robots at Incheon International Airport to assist travelers. Other companies are testing ceiling-rail-mounted robots that slide across commercial parking garages to service multiple vehicles. Because roughly 80 percent of EV charging takes place at home, Xiaomi’s compact garage-ready arm could give the company a meaningful advantage if the retail price is reasonable.

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CATL, the leading battery manufacturer in the world, introduced a slew of new cutting-edge battery products during the 2026 Tech Day. The company introduced batteries designated for passenger vehicles, including PHEV and EREV, as well as battery swap solutions.

Let’s start with the third-generation Qlin battery, which holds a 125 kWh capacity, enough to power the vehicle for at least 620 miles before needing a recharge. The battery is based on the nickel-cobalt-manganese chemistry, and the impressive capacity isn’t even the highlight feature.

According to CATL, the battery charging rate is equivalent to 10C and peaks at 15C. That translates to 4-6 minutes of charging to full. Of course, those numbers are theoretical, and the charging power also depends on temperature, charging stations, etc.

The energy density is also mighty impressive. The volumetric energy density is 600 Wh/L, while the gravimetric density is said to be 280 Wh/kg. That makes the pack significantly smaller and lighter, tipping the scale at 1,378 lb, or 562 lb lighter than comparable LFP batteries.

This will allow engineers to design lighter cars with more cabin space. Additionally, the vehicles equipped with the said battery will have lower consumption, increased safety when maneuvering and also reduce the stress on certain components, extending their lifespan.

CATL also showcased a Qlin Condensed battery with 350 Wh/kg gravimetric density and 760 Wh/L volumetric density. With a battery this size, CATL predicts that big sedans will be able to reach 932 miles ranges, while full-sized SUVs will be able to reach 620 miles on a single charge.

The third-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging battery aims to solve the charging time issues. Just like the Qlin battery, its theoretical charging power is capable of equivalent 10C with a peak of 15C.

According to CATL’s tests, the pack can charge from 10% to 35% in just one minute, while a 10% to 80% charge takes only 3 minutes and 44 seconds. Going from 10% to 98% takes only 6 minutes and 27 seconds. Even in extremely cold temperatures of −30°C, the battery can perform just as well, charging from 20% to 98% in 9 minutes.

After 1,000 complete charging cycles, the battery retains more than 90% of its capacity, again according to CATL’s internal tests.

The Freevoy Super Hybrid battery, on the other hand, moves to the second generation. It’s designed for PHEV and EREV models and offers 311 miles of pure electric range and supports an equivalent 10C charging speed. CATL says this battery will enable a “once-a-week charging” experience for EREV models.

The battery is based on the LFP chemistry and has 230 Wh/kg energy density, but an NCM version was also introduced. It supports the same equivalent 10C charging speed and provides 373 miles of pure electric range.

Last but not least, CATL introduced #26 Choco-Swap battery, succeeding the #20 and #22 versions. The newer battery now covers all vehicle classes with an 800-volt architecture. The first #26 Choco-Swap battery to hit the market will be 75 kWh, but larger batteries are also in the works.

Both Choco-Swap and Qiji swap stations for heavy-duty trucks will come standard with the Shenxing superfast charging piles.

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German luxury car maker BWM has unveiled the i3, its first electric sedan under the Neue Klasse (New Class) platform, which will boast a whopping 900 km of range, outdoing the newly announced iX3’s 805 km range spec.

Details were unveiled in Munich this week, where the BMW i3 sedan had its world premiere, and will also be the city where the factory that will produce this model.

The dual-motor BMW i3 50 xDrive will be the first car off the rank under the i3 model name, with an expected arrival in early 2027, around 6 months after the iX3 lands on our shores this year.

This powertrain delivers 345 kW of power and 645 Nm of torque, making it one of the most powerful sedans the company makes.

Like the new iX3, the i3 sedan can charge at up to 400 kW at the right fast charger, adding 400 km of range in just 10 minutes.

Behind this charging speed is BMW’s sixth-generation eDrive tech, which moves to an 800 V architecture and cylindrical battery cells. That not only helps with hitting those charging speeds but also the range the sedan can deliver. 

Although specs on the battery pack were not disclosed for the i3, we can expect a similar capacity to that on the iX3, which stands at 108 kWh.

This battery also forms part of the cell-to-pack setup, which allows for high energy densities at the pack level and a flatter high-voltage battery pack.

Another bit of tech which would be welcomed by future i3 owners is Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, as well as Vehicle-to-Home and Vehicle-to-Grid. More details on these capabilities will be announced later.

On the i3, there is also the new BMW Panoramic iDrive system, which will bring the traditional iDrive system into quite a modern experience. 

Like the iX3, the BMW i3 50 xDrive is the first variant in the lineup, and we can expect more variants with different specifications to be announced later down the track.

More details, including pricing and specifications, will be announced at a later date, likely closer to its early 2027 launch.

With a 900 km range on a single charge, 400 kW charging speeds, and a modern sports-car look with its tech-focused interior, it could be the best-selling European sedan on the market next year.