[RahulNagaraj]

Swedish carmaker Volvo has announced that it is testing wireless charging technology for electric vehicles. The company will be offering the technology on a bunch of XC40 Recharge models, all of which will be operated by a Taxi company for the next three years.



Cars equipped with the new technology will be able to charge wirelessly by parking over a charging pad embedded in the road surface. Once the car line's up correctly, it will automatically start charging without the need for the driver to get out of the vehicle. The wireless pads used for charging the XC40 Recharge EVs are supplied by Momentum Dynamics - a US-based wireless vehicle charging specialist.



Volvo claims charging speeds in excess of 40 kW, enough to add 60 miles (96.5 km) of range on the XC40 Recharge in just 30 minutes. The wireless charging tech equipped taxis are expected to be used for more than 12 hours a day, ramping up close to 1 lakh km in a year.

The tests are conducted in specialised areas of Gothenburg, known as Green City Zones. These areas allow companies to test out multiple new technologies in a real-world environment and evaluate them for a potential broader introduction.

Link to Team-BHP news

[kosjam]

With wireless technology in its current form, I sincerely hope this does not become mainstream.

Wireless charging is an inherently wasteful mode of charging, I remember reading that up to 30% of the energy consumed for charging a cell phone, which is in physical contact with the charging pad, is wasted as heat. I am scared to even know the wastage with an air gap involved.

Unless they have radically improved the technology, this is going to be one of the most wasteful modes of charging developed, in the name of "convenience".

[Precision]

The process of Stepping out of the car,syncing with the charging platform's app and plugging in the charger will take a maximum of 3 minutes and another three minute in reverse for when you are done charging so in total the maximum time taken would be 10 minutes.
Wireless charging is wasteful and every manufacturer of wireless chargers know it then why would Volvo do something so counterproductive in the pursuit of going "green"?

[pram_ind]

Wireless phone chargers emit very less EMf radiations which are not harmful.
But charging a car requires a very high Voltage/current.
Is there any danger of EMf radiations?

[Aromal]

Originally Posted by Precision

Why would Volvo do something so counterproductive in the pursuit of going "green"?

I think it’s more to do with Volvo being a Swedish car manufacturer. Sweden is the first county to introduce electrified roads for trucks and various other forms of innovations in the field of electrification of the transportation sector happens in Sweden. The Swedish police is planning to electrify its fleet and the fact that EV needs to be put in charge limits its adaptation within the police force. Swedish police must be interested in this tech.

Now Northvolt and Volvo is collaborating to build a new Gigafactory in Gothenburg, and major innovations in EVs are expected from Volvo in coming years. It’s all about collaboration with various stakeholders and innovation and collaboration even if counterproductive doesn’t hurt.

[Emvi]

Related video-

https://youtu.be/PugoLUCeneI

[StarrySky]

Here is another wireless charging video and a comparison test with wired charging. Wireless charging appears to be about 86% efficient. Surprisingly, wired charging is less than 80% efficient in this instance.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE1gaNO9nj0