How Wireless EV Charging Works
Our CEO, Alex Gruzen, has often been quoted saying, “Anything that can go wireless, does.” The same is true for electric vehicles (EVs), which are – today – still dependent on cords and cables for charging. The automotive solutions from WiTricity can change that model and get rid of the hassle of charging. In fact, because of the cable, 40% of those considering buying an electric car worry that they will forget to charge – and that’s a real barrier to EV adoption.
How Does Wireless Charging Work for an Electric Car?
It’s easy to think that wireless charging for a car would be like wireless charging for your smartphone – and they are similar technologies, but with a few significant differences. Similar to a smartphone, there is a receiver for electric charging in your EV, which would need to be paired with a charging pad to provide the power. But unlike with your phone, the charging pad for the car does not need to come into contact with the car. WiTricity Halo charging solutions transmit power over distance, so all you have to do is park over the charging pad, and it works. It’s that easy! Parking doesn’t have to be perfect, either, because the technology is much more forgiving than the technology in your phone that requires precise alignment.
Another very important difference between wireless charging for your EV and wireless charging for your phone is that the efficiency of the EV charging is just as high as the plug. (You can read our explanation of how this is so here). In fact, the number one misconception people have about wireless EV charging is that it must be slow – but it’s not.
What Are the Benefits of Wireless Charging for EVs?
People often ask us, “How hard is it to plug in?” For those of you who work in an office setting (or used to before the pandemic), when was the last time you fussed with a tangle of LAN cords on the conference room table to connect to the internet? How many of you get up and cross the room to change the channel on your television? Convenience is a significant driver of the many technologies we’ve seen go wireless.
But it’s not just convenience. Cords and cables strung across garages, sidewalks, and driveways also pose trip hazards. The moving parts in plug-in chargers can break or get misaligned. And people with even minor disabilities can find the whole process to be awkward, at best. Wireless charging makes refueling as simple as parking so that anyone who can drive can simply and easily charge their EV. That’s why we get contacted every day by consumers wanting to know when they can get wireless charging capabilities for their EV!
WiTricity’s Automotive Solutions
WiTricity hardened, automotive-grade software and hardware is a complete, end-to-end system that provides industry-standard, interoperable wireless charging. Our patented magnetic resonance technology is the foundation of our overall solution. Still, our engineering services, cloud-based software solution, and advanced support for OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers make it all possible. To learn more about how wireless charging is the future of EV charging, contact us.
Check out the whitepaper:
Highly Resonant Wireless Power Transfer: Safe, Efficient, and Over Distance
