In the years that EVs have been around, numerous advancements and innovations have been made.
However, one of the most exciting innovations has finally arrived: wireless EV charging.
Overcoming these challenges in a feasible and cost-effective way is no easy task.
Image Credit: Kristinaoconnell/Wikimedia Commons
However, researchers have cracked the code and are now developing EV wireless charging for a street near you.
It is easy to take wireless technology for granted today, but it truly is cutting-edge technology.
The science behind the innovation is based on electromagnet induction.
Image Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Wikimedia Commons
Basically, if an alternating current passes through a wire coil, a magnetic field will occur.
It works well at short range for charging your phone, but there’s a challenge.
Because of this, primary and secondary coils must be placed in close proximity for maximum efficiency.
Image Credit: Oak Ridge National Laboratory/Wikimedia Commons
The same efficiency depends on the alignment and cross-sectional area of the two coils.
Scaling this up to apply to EVs higher off the ground and imperfectly parked presents apparent difficulties.
MIT researchers and others have been working on a solution, developing technology to counteract the inverse square law.
Image Credit:Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Magnetic resonance strengthens the coupling between the two coils, increasing the total coupling factor.
Top concerns include the range of electric vehicles and ease of charging.
It’s important to make charging effortless.
Having a convenient and effective way to charge EVs will get more people on board with its transition.
More countries are transitioning from combustion engine vehicles to electric ones.
Consequently, supporting infrastructures are growing rapidly.
HEVO faces stiff competition to produce wireless EV chargers in the United States.
Massachusetts-based WiTricity also specializes in EV wireless technology.
An MIT spinoff, it was founded by Professor Marin Soljacic in 2007.
WiTricity technology makes home wireless EV charging possible using a wall-mounted electrical box connected to a floor charging pad.
Plug in charging is difficult, dirty, unreliable and even dangerous.
The answer is wireless charging by WiTricity for EV owners today, and absolutely for autonomous vehicles tomorrow.
If theres no driver, whos going to plug it in?
said Alex Gruzen, CEO, WiTricity.
WAVEis another company impacting the wireless charging market.
The acronym WAVE stands for Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification.
It’s owned by Ideonomics, a company making fast charging systems for medium and heavy-duty vehicles.
Tesla has partnered with Wave to fit receiver boxes to its semi-trucks when they become available.
Tesla is very optimistic about the project.
Is Wireless EV Charging the Better Way?
EV charging via wireless technology is at the forefront of the industry’s advancement.
