Apple Inc is investigating how to charge electric cars, talking to charging station companies and hiring engineers with expertise in the area, according to people familiar with the matter and a review of LinkedIn profiles.
The moves show Apple responding to a key shortcoming of electric vehicles: “filling up” the batteries. A shortage of public charging stations, and the hours wasted in charging a car, could be an opportunity for Apple.
Apple, which has never publicly acknowledged a car project, declined to comment.
Neither the LinkedIn profiles nor sources said specifically that Apple was building charging stations for electric vehicles (EV).
Apple is asking charging station companies about their underlying technology, one person with knowledge of the matter said.
The talks, which have not been reported, do not concern charging for electric cars of Apple employees, a service the company already provides.
They indicate that Apple is focused on a car, the person added.
Charging firms are treading carefully, the person added, wary of sharing too much with a company they view as a potential rival.
It is unclear whether Apple would want its own proprietary technology, such as Tesla Motors Inc’s Supercharger network, or would design a system that is compatible with offerings from other market players.
Apple has hired at least four electric vehicle charging specialists, including former BMW employee Ronan O Braonain, who worked on integrating charging infrastructure into home energy systems, as well as communication between EVs, BMW and utilities, according to a LinkedIn review.
As recently as January, Apple hired Nan Liu, an engineer who researched a form of wireless charging for electric vehicles.
Quartz earlier this month reported that Apple had hired former Google charging expert Kurt Adelberger.
Electric vehicle charging stations are manufactured, installed and operated under varying business models. Players in the space include Car Charging Group Inc and privately held ChargePoint, SemaConnect and ClipperCreek, infrastructure companies such as Black & Veatch and AECOM as well as General Electric Co, Siemens AG and Delta Electronics Inc (台達電).
The three largest utilities in California also have plans to install charging stations.
One global engineering and construction firm already has reached out to Apple to offer its services, a person at the firm said.
“It would be natural to assume if Apple is going to have a full battery electric vehicle that creates a seamless consumer experience the way Apple does, the charging infrastructure and its availability would be of paramount importance,” the source said.
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