Plugless Power in Whytheville, VA will use a US Department of Energy [DOE] grant to implement its wireless inductive charging receivers on electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles could really get going if there was a way to easily charge them whether you are at home, at work or shopping. True, charging stations are available in different areas, but deploying electric vehicle charging stations isn’t cheap.
Plugless Power believes that deployment of its small inductive charging stations might be easier to implement. The equipment is smaller and less expensive than a typical charging station, and is also much easier to use because there are no plugs involved.
You simply park on top of the charger button and the corresponding coil on the vehicle picks up the magnetic field and generates electricity.
While some have concerns over shock hazard with typical electric vehicle chargers [eliminated by plug design], there is pretty much zero chance of electrical contact with a wireless inductive charger because there are no contacts of any kind. One of the problems with wireless inductive charging though, is low power output and efficiency.
Wireless inductive charging is currently being tested in multiple markets, including bus companies in England and Germany. Plugless Power’s inductive chargers are currently rated at 3.3kW and can be installed on any electric vehicle. The DOE grant will go toward implementing their device on Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf electric vehicles here in the US.
Image©Plugless Power
