Wireless charging technology, which we have been using in phones for a long time, is getting ready to enter our cars. Accelerating its work on electric cars a little more each day, Volvo has started testing new wireless charging technologies that can be used in the city environment.
A fleet of small all-electric cars, consisting of the Volvo XC40 Recharge model, will be used as a taxi for three years by Cabonline, the largest taxi operator in the Nordic region. This fleet will be charged wirelessly at stations in Gothenburg, Sweden. Here are the details…
Volvo begins testing cars with wireless charging
Volvo sees wireless charging testing as one of several key projects under the strategic Gothenburg Green City Area initiative. These designated areas within the city are used as live testbeds for the development of sustainable technologies.
The charging stations used in the test are supplied by Momentum Dynamics, a leading manufacturer in the field of wireless electric charging systems. Charging starts automatically when a compatible car is parked on a charging pad placed on the street. The driver easily completes the charging process without getting out of his car.
The charging station sends energy to the receiver unit in the car via the charging pad. Volvo Cars uses its 360-degree camera system to accurately and easily align the car on the charging pad. Wireless charging power will be over 40 kW for the fully electric XC40 Recharge cars.
So the charging speed will be about four times faster than a wired 11 kW AC charger and nearly the same as a wired 50 kW DC fast charger. Volvo cars will be used for more than 12 hours a day and will travel 100,000 km per year.
Thus, this test will also be the first endurance test of all-electric Volvo cars in a commercial use scenario. Other partners in the wireless charging project include the company’s Swedish retailers Volvo Bil and Volvo Car Sörred, Swedish energy company Vattenfall and its charging network InCharge, city energy company.
So what do you think about this issue? Will Volvo be able to achieve the success it wants with wireless charging cars and make this technology widespread? You can share your views with us in the comments section or on the SDN Forum.
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