Various plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle makers, as well as other companies, have been investigating wireless charging, self-parking in the Toyota Prius Plug-In makes it even easier!
Currently, plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles require a physical connection to recharge the vehicle’s onboard battery packs. Current charging stations have been fairly reliable, and there should be practically zero risk of danger, given the interlocks built into the machine. Still, perhaps this video of a Toyota Prius Plug-In shows how wireless electric vehicle charging could be so much easier…
First, the Toyota Prius Plug-In is equipped with a self-parking feature. In Japan, zero driver interaction is required to park the car, simply tell the car, via touchscreen interface, you want to park in the charging spot, and the car automatically detects the wireless charging pad, backs up, steering and braking on its own, until it is parked precisely over the pad to start charging. This same system, in the US, would require the driver to control the brake, but that may change in the future.
While current electric vehicle charging stations require a manual connection, current wireless charging stations can eliminate that. At the same time, current wireless charging stations and electric vehicles require that you park precisely over the pad for optimal charging. The combination of Toyota Prius Plug-In’s autonomous parking system with wireless charging takes practically all of the guesswork out of it, making plug-in vehicle ownership that much easier.
Image © Toyota
what is the frequency?
NeilFarbstein yeah, but you’re going on about “what if” when we’re surrounded by what-if every moment of our lives. what if i spill my coffee and crack my head open on the floor? doesn’t make coffee any less safe that walking in front of a bus, does it? accidents happen, including a haywire induction charging unit.
on the other hand, a properly-functioning wireless charger should emit no EM radiation when it’s off, and the only time it emits radiation is when the receiving unit is parked a few centimeters above it. studies have been showing that very little leaks laterally. they don’t want any leaking anyway, because that would mean inefficiency and slower charging time.
you’d have to be under the car or laying down next to the wheels unless it goes out of control and stays on after you move the car away. what if you left in a corner of the garage and didn’t realize it was irradiating you while worked on somthing? What frequency does it charge the cars with?
NeilFarbstein well, the coils don’t energize until commanded by the car when in proximity for charging, so it’s unlikely that it would cause any problem. You’re not planning on sleeping in your car are you? If something does happen to the could or shielding, I figure it would have some safety cutoff.
what happiness of the wireless charging system breaks down? Does it spew EM radiation into the air?