Rozetki SPb, a St. Petersburg company, has patented a charging station for electric vehicles equipped with a cryptocurrency mining module. The developers claim this method can generate popular coins, including Bitcoin и эфириум.
According to the developers, the mined kriptovalyuta partially offsets the cost of charging an electric vehicle, which could be beneficial for both individuals and companies that own electric vehicles, the online publication Delovoy Peterburg reported.
Journalists calculated that a used Tesla Model S would require 300 kWh of electricity for a monthly driving range of 1500 km. Considering that residential electricity rates in Russia average 6,2 rubles per kWh, this would cost the owner 2600 rubles (less than $33).
Moreover, according to the company, the Rozetka SPb charger is capable of mining cryptocurrency worth 7200 rubles (over $90). Therefore, the electric car driver will benefit from the extra 4000 rubles.
The St. Petersburg company’s idea seems unique, as similar projects don’t yet exist anywhere else. However, there are examples of hybrid devices that, for example, use excess heat generated during mining to heat homes and industrial facilities.
Such solutions demonstrate the potential for practical application of mining equipment beyond traditional data centers, says Sergei Bezdelov, Director of the Industrial Mining Association.