Wireless charging for electric vehicles

Wireless charging is convenient and is the way forward to meet the challenge of keeping electric vehicles charged. Qualcomm is putting its wireless charging platform through real-world tests by experimenting its Halo Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology with a fleet of 50 vehicles in London that includes Delta Motorsport Delta E4 Coupé and Renault’s Fluence ZE EV.

As with most wireless charging technology, WEVC uses inductive charging technology. The installation will require a copper coil in a pad to be installed on the ground and a second pad to be installed on the vehicle. Energy is then transferred between the two pads. To quote Qualcomm’s marketing director Joe Barrett, “Simply put, WEVC works in the same way as an electric tooth brush, only on a larger scale”.

WEVC system can potentially make EV batteries smaller which can be charged faster and more frequently. This can lead to price reduction of EVs and increased adoptions.

“A good example is taxis or car share,” says Barrett. “Taxis can’t plug in and plug out all the time while moving along a taxi line, so wireless is ideal.”