[dZired]

Electric cars will soon get wireless charging capabilities, which will replace the current complex charging procedure that requires the car owner to physically plug the car into a power socket via cables. Many automakers are planning to equip their upcoming electric cars with such wireless charging systems. Market experts suggest that adoption of wireless power transmission in cars will help growth of the electric car market.

The first OEM to use this technology will most likely be Mercedes-Benz, which is expected to make use of induction-based charging systems in the S500e plug-in hybrid that is scheduled to be launched next year. This system is jointly being developed by Mercedes and BMW, with the latter expected to introduce it in the i3 EV and i8 plug-in hybrid. A prototype of the system is already being tested on the BMW i8 that has been deployed as a safety car in Formula E races.

Additionally, many new companies are building aftermarket wireless charging kits for cars already in production. Evatran is one such company, which has developed a wireless charging system for the Tesla Model S. This aftermarket module, called Plugless Power, costs $2,400 and will only be offered for the rear wheel drive Model S. The company hopes to expand it to the entire Tesla range in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CZevHlvaE7A

Wireless charging basically works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. It includes two charging pads, one placed on the car's underbody, and the other on the parking floor. For this system to work, the car should be parked at the appropriate place wherein the car's charging pad is over the primary charging pad on the floor. Once done, the primary charging pad drives power from the wall mounted power unit, and starts producing continuously varying electric flux that induces a current in the secondary charging pad as well. This current is then processed and the charge is saved in the car's batteries through an on-board controller.

Source: Automotive News and Autoblog