AAA unveils first roadside assistance truck capable of charging EVs in North America

AAA Roadside Truck EV Charging

One of the ongoing concerns about electric cars is the time it takes to get them going again if their fuel runs out. Where as with a gasoline car, you can just refill and go, an electric car requires several hours out of the day to get a full charge which in turn, significantly inhibits the practicality of an electric car. Now though, North America’s largest motor club, AAA, has unveiled the continent’s first ever roadside assistance truck that’s capable of recharging electric vehicles.

“AAA has been a leader in addressing the needs of motorists for more than a century, and the introduction of mobile electric vehicle charging continues that tradition,” said Marshall L. Doney, AAA’s Automotive Vice President. “As the electric vehicle market continues to emerge, AAA is ready to help alleviate some ‘range anxiety’ with the ability to provide a charge to electric vehicles on the roadside that gets drivers back on the go quickly.”

The program begins with its first trucks in only six metropolitan areas across the US. The trucks will deploy later this summer and throughout the fall and will help rescue members with ‘depleted’ electric vehicles using Level 2 and Level 3 charging systems. The trucks will charge the cars for up to 10 to 15 minutes, enough so that the driver can reach their destination and continue charging on their own account. So it’s similar to receiving a gallon of gas so you can get to a station to refill as AAA’s Director of Auto Repair, John Nielsen said himself.

“AAA’s mobile electric vehicle charging is intended to be a service similar to what AAA has provided to motorists with gas-powered vehicles for nearly a century. When your vehicle runs out of fuel — whether it is traditional gasoline or electric ‘fuel’ — AAA can provide you with a limited amount to help you safely reach a location where you can fill up your tank or your battery,” explained Nielsen.

– By: Chris Chin