CES 2024: Bosch presents automated parking and charging

At the CES 2024 electronics show in Las Vegas, Bosch is presenting Automated Valet Charging, which has been honored with a CES 2024 Innovation Award by the industry association CTA. Electric cars equipped with this technology can independently drive to an available parking spot with a charging station in a parking garage equipped for automated parking (Automated Valet Parking). At the push of a button via smartphone and without further human intervention, a robot charges the battery. Once the charging process is completed, the vehicle maneuvers driverlessly to another parking spot, freeing up the charging station for the next car.

“The unique combination of Automated Valet Charging and Automated Valet Parking makes Bosch a pioneer in the market,” emphasizes Tanja Rückert, CEO of Robert Bosch GmbH, adding: “Every step toward more convenience in electromobility not only increases its attractiveness but also its acceptance.”

Production of SiC Chips to Be Increased Tenfold

For this reason, Bosch is also focusing on the innovative semiconductor material silicon carbide (SiC), a key component for electrified mobility. The global surge in electromobility is leading to a tremendous demand for these specialized semiconductors. Since 2021, Bosch has been producing such chips using its own highly complex processes at its German site in Reutlingen and is currently investing more than $1.5 billion in another wafer factory in Roseville, California. The aim is to start production of initial SiC chips in the USA by 2026, thereby increasing the quantities tenfold in the coming years. In electric vehicles, SiC chips enable greater range and more efficient charging processes, as they have up to 50% less energy loss. They also ensure that the car travels significantly further on a single battery charge—on average, up to 6% more range is possible compared to chips based on silicon.

Hydrogen as a Pillar of Future Mobility

In addition to electrification, Bosch sees hydrogen as a key to sustainably meeting the world's energy needs. The focus is currently on the mobile fuel cell, which recently began mass production in Stuttgart. It forms the heart of the propulsion system for heavy vehicles. Bosch has already received initial orders from truck manufacturers in Europe, the USA, and China. Additionally, the company is working on components for a hydrogen engine, which directly converts fuel into energy without first converting it into electricity. The H₂ engine is expected to hit the market later this year.

Software for More Comfort and Energy Efficiency

Across all business areas, Bosch is focusing on software and digitalization. The company now employs more than 44,000 people in software development and considers itself a pioneer on the path to software-defined mobility. In Las Vegas, Bosch, together with its strategic partner Amazon Web Services, is presenting new products and solutions – including a connected, fully automatic espresso machine that in the future can also be controlled from the car using voice control software like Alexa.

Additionally, the CES 2024 will feature a "Point-of-Interest" assistant that uses an interior camera to identify which restaurant or café the driver is looking at based on their eye movements. In real-time and fully automatically, the voice control software then informs the driver whether the establishment is open and has a free table available.

Furthermore, Bosch will present two new mobility services at the electronics fair: "Usage Certificate To Go" and "Vehicle Health Service." The former is an addition to Bosch's already established "Battery in the Cloud" services. The feature analyzes battery data, determines its condition, and helps extend its lifespan by up to 20% through optimization. The latter service is aimed at fleet operators and offers preventive measures to avoid vehicle breakdowns.