Revolutionary ideas and technologies like wireless charging for EVs are being discussed and developed on a daily basis making this a great time to be an automobile aficionado.
Wireless charging for EVs is slated to become the next step in the ongoing electrification revolution. Electric mobility is barely past its nascent stage and we are witnessing quite innovative and practical solutions for some of the most challenging aspects of EV adoption. While there are tons of prominent and well-documented issues with EVs, perhaps a not-so-popular aspect is the problem with handling and maintaining the charging cables. Just like in smartphones, wireless charging could address that point.
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Wireless Charging for EVs
There has been a significant amount of work done in this space. However, not many players have emerged that are doing this on large scale. But every technology with EVs is new and in the testing phase. Wireless charging is no different. There are companies like InductEV that have rolled out some work in this space and are already operational. They are targeting the commercial vehicle space for some specific reasons.
InductEV has developed this technology wherein they will install charging pads in the floor of a parking lot or any other public place. There could be 1 to 6 charging pads. Depending on the kind of EV, the charging speed will vary. The charging equipment will be installed underneath the body of an EV. In fact, there are already 2 EVs in China and 1 in Korea that have been launched with this technology. Other mainstream OEMs are working toward integrating this in their upcoming cars. Note that these will be limited to premium EVs in the beginning.
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Advantages
There are tons of advantages of using wireless charging for EVs. This includes the prevention of a scenario where the EV owner has to deal with wear and tear of the charging cable, no need to install poles and chargers at the stations, the charging pads are integrated into the floor on which the EV could simply park and commerce charging within seconds of arrival, commercial vehicles likes trucks could get charged while loading and unloading without the fear of the workers getting tripped over or stepping on the cables, etc.
Wireless Charging for EVs – Efficiency
The key point to discuss with this technology is efficiency. As per a report by McKinsey while talking to the Chief Commercial Officer at InductEV, Bob Kacergis, it was established that a wireless charging system is 1-2% more efficient than a DC fast charger at the same power level. This is due to the fact that the highly coupled inductors don’t radiate into free space while operating in a near-field system. Furthermore, the charging rate is similar to the regular chargers.
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Cost
Contrary to popular belief, the ownership cost of wireless charging would be significantly lower compared to traditional cables. In fact, it would be comparable to installing a Level 2 charger. Long terms cost-saving benefits are there including eliminating the need to maintain the health of cables. However, the cost benefits for private passenger EV owners still needs to be much lower which will take some time.
Challenges
Needless to mention, this new technology, as is the case with every new technology, has its own set of challenges. This includes the cost for private EV owners, at least in the beginning. Until the production is on large scale, it would be nigh impossible to install this tech on mass-market EVs. Then there is the issue of many automakers still not believing that wireless charging systems will be able to achieve high power and are only suitable for home garages and not public places.
In any case, people at InductEV are positive that they will be able to launch their first OEM product as early as 2026. Until then, they are retrofitting their components in commercial vehicles like taxis or at homes. The potential of this technology in conjunction with automated parking is infinite.