Volvo has announced it is testing a game-changing EV wireless charging technology using its own electric models.
Citing Carsales Australia, the Swedish carmaker seems to have enough money and desire to develop a powerful wireless charging tech, similar to what is commonly used in today’s electronic devices.
The real-world testing with more than 40 kW or power transfer takes place in Swedish capital Gotheburg. 40 kW is more than most people expect from wireless charging and competes well with some DC fast charging stations available today.
According to Volvo, the testing will run on Swedish roads for 3 years using a small fleet of its own electric model Volvo XC40 Recharge. They are currently in use by a taxi company Cabonline.
Cabonline will drive Volvo EVs for around 12 hours a day and 100,000 km per year. This way Volvo will try to determine technology’s feasibility and put its first-ever EV model under a serious durability test.
Most of today’s electric and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners have to bother with parking their car, getting out, authorizing the charging process, plugging the cable in and then the charge session starts. With wireless tech you could potentially skip all of those steps.
Wireless tech for EVs would work just like for other appliances we use. Charge pad with an electromagnetic induction would in this case be buried underneath the asphalt and the receiver would be installed under the car’s battery pack.
Other companies are also working on this tech – starting with 11 kW system WeTriCity in North America, Hyundai in Korea or Renault in Europe.
