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What do these old devices have in common? Wires!
With the exception of major appliances, the evolution of electronics is wireless technology!
We even receive the internet wirelessly and are starting to charge our phones wirelessly.
And as vehicles become electric powered, it’s safe to assume that wireless charging is the inevitable path.
Imagine a future where electric vehicles charge where ever its parks, while stopped at a traffic light or even as it drives along the highway.
This will finally put an end to range anxiety and it’s possible by electromagnetic induction.
Electromagnetic Induction involves two electromagnetic coils, which are simply wires, usually made out of copper, that are wrapped around a core and have electrical currents running through them.
One coil is on a transmitter, which in the future would be on a charging pad in a parking space, at a stoplight intersection or even embedded in the road itself.
And then the 2nd coil is below the vehicle serving as a receiver.
As electricity is passed through the transmitter coil, it generates a magnetic field and transfers energy to the receiver coil, charging the vehicle.
So, industry experts believe that wireless charging will be implemented in 4 phases.
The first phase is relatively simple residential systems.
Second, wireless systems will emerge in parking lots.
Third under on-street parking spaces.
Then the 4th phase is farther out in the future when we will see dynamic wireless charging systems embedded into highways.
And the first phase unfolding as there are at least two companies which have already developed residential grade wireless charging systems including Evatran and WiTricity.
Evatran is based out of Virginia and has charging systems available for the Tesla Model S, the BMW I3, Nissan Leaf and Chevy Bolt with various output levels between 3.3 to 7.2kw which is around the typical home power rating range.
WiTricity is based out of Massachusetts and their technology traces its roots to MIT research.
Their system stands out because the output ranges up to 11kw.
On top of that, auto manufacturers themselves are developing their own wireless charging systems including Nissan and BMW.
While phase 1 of wireless charging appears to be well on its way towards implementation, phase 2 through 4 will need government support.
And this brings us to the UK.
Back in July, the country proposed a plan to dedicate £40M towards research for wireless charging technology.
This includes investigating wireless charging solutions for streets where off-street parking is not available.
Along with wireless charging solutions for commercial vehicles such as ride-sharing service vehicles and delivery vehicles.
I’m excited to see what comes from this research and if it’s half as compelling as the US Department of Energy’s research, it will be amazing.
The DOE’s sponsored Oak Ridge National Laboratory has recently demonstrated a wireless charging system with an output of 120kw, which is equivalent to a Tesla Supercharger!
And the Lab isn’t stopping there, as their long-term goal is to develop a wireless charging system with an output of 350kw!
This would allow EVs to charge in 15 minutes or less!
Additionally, in order for dynamic wireless charging systems to be economically viable, meeting the 350kw out goal is critical.
You see, as the power output improves, the number of coils needed to be embedded in roads is reduced along with the cost to install.
So hopefully Oak Ridge can continue to make progress and allow for wireless charging as we drive along the highway!
In the meantime, we can already see a dynamic wireless charging system in action with a demonstration project done by Qualcomm Technologies.
Qualcomm constructed a 100-meter test track in France embedded with a 20kw wireless charging system.
Not only did the project demonstrate charging vehicles traveling at highway speeds, but it also demonstrated two vehicles charging on the track at the same time.
While 20kw is far from economical, it’s still awesome to see and shows that dynamic wireless charging will someday be a reality as the technology improves!
And it shows that with wireless charging technology, it’s only a matter of time until we see The End Of Range Anxiety!

Alright, that’s all I have for now.
I hope you enjoyed your journey, if you did, please leave a like and subscribe.
I am NeoScribe and I’ll see you on the next journey.