Volvo claims the tech can add 60 miles of range in just 30 minutes.
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.