The world’s first automatic charging station for remotely operated cars

Elmo, a car-sharing company, and Elonroad, a charging solutions provider, have opened the world’s first fully automatic charging station for remotely operated cars in Tallinn, Estonia. Located in the city center, the station charges driverless vehicles—such as a Nissan Leaf and Renault Zoe equipped with Elonroad’s energy collectors—using a conductive rail system, eliminating the need for any human involvement.

This innovation solves a key challenge for remote-controlled vehicles, which cannot be manually plugged in for charging. By automating the process, Elmo reduces downtime and unnecessary trips for charging, making their operations more efficient and sustainable. The project is co-financed by EIT Urban Mobility, an EU initiative.

Elmo, which has pioneered legal remote-driving technology for public car-sharing since 2022, plans to expand these automatic charging stations globally. The company’s remote-controlled cars already operate on public roads in Estonia, Finland, and several other countries, supporting their vision to make mobility more sustainable with innovative remote-driving solutions.