New Partnership is Bringing Wireless Charging to Electric Vehicles

In Brief

•   WiTricity is partnering with General Motors to bring wireless charging to electric vehicles operating on 7.7 kilowatt or 11 kilowatt systems.

•   Experts do not expect the commercialization of the technology until about 2020, but the addition of charging abilities could find its way to parking lots and public spaces.

General Motors and WiTricity have begun working together to make wireless charging of electric vehicles not only more efficient but also more accessible. The collaboration involves testing WiTricity’s prototype Drive 11 park-and-charge system, which could work with vehicles that have 7.7 kilowatt or 11 kilowatt systems. Electric vehicles could just park over a designated area, and the batteries would start filling up.

This hopes to address the unexpected hassles that came with owning EVs, particularly that of recharging. Although owners of EVs have foregone countless tedious trips to gasoline stations to pump fuel, they have had to deal with the new troubles of cables and adapters. Imagine coming home and forgetting to plug in your electric car, then waking up to find that it has no juice left to run.

Other partnerships have had a head start on the wireless EV charging game, but GM and WiTricity hope to take it one step further, like installing “charging pads” in public spaces and parking lots. Further, the technology is being developed so that it could be compatible with all EV models. International standards, however, are yet to be finalized. According to SAE International, the authority in wireless charging, commercialization isn’t likely until 2020.

Read more https://futurism.com/new-partnership-is-bringing-wireless-charging-to-electric-vehicles/