Tesla is reportedly interested in buying Wiferion, a company based in Germany that specializes in wireless charging systems for a variety of industrial electric vehicles (EVs). News of a possible acquisition comes a few months after Tesla teased a wireless home charging system for their EVs during a company presentation.
According to a report from the German news organization ntv, Tesla’s name appears in an industry portal called “Gründerszene” in which it says Wiferion plans to sell to Tesla. The name listed in the commercial register is Tesla International BV, which based on company records reviewed by Drive Tesla is a subsidiary of the automaker registered in the Netherlands.
“The shareholders intend to sell their shares in the company to Tesla International BV by means of a purchase agreement,” the register shows.
Wiferion is a company that specializes in wireless charging solutions for industrial applications. Their website shows they offer wireless charging systems for mobile robots, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and other battery-powered devices, but those applications could easily be applied to consumer EVs.
Neither Wiferion nor Tesla have commented on a pending deal.
Tesla has already been working on a wireless charging solution for their EVs for some time. During an Investor Day presentation back in March the company snuck in a glimpse of a wireless induction charger being used to charge a Model S in a home garage. What was shown was a massive Wall Connector-type device on the garage wall, with a cable leading down to a charging mat placed underneath the rear of the Model S.
While Tesla has not announced or mentioned a wireless charging system in any official manner, we have learned the company has been developing this product for well over a year. Referred to internally as ‘Project Garfield,” our sources tell us initial testing has shown it can provide impressive charging speeds that exceed that of a Mobile Connector and rival those provided by the Wall Connector.
Tesla shares first look at wireless induction charger and charging mat
