Delphi to bring wireless charging for electric and hybrid cars

If you’ve been following the latest in gadget technology, you must’ve heard of these new generation of chargers for mobile phones and such devices which just need the said devices to be kept on a “charging pad” to refill drained batteries.

Recently, Delphi Automotive has reached an agreement with WiTricity Corp., a wireless energy transfer technology provider, to develop automatic wireless charging products for hybrid and electric vehicles. These wireless charging system involves no plugs or charging cords.  Drivers simply park their electric vehicle over a wireless energy source that sits on the garage floor, or is embedded in a paved parking spot. The system will automatically transfer power to the battery charger on the vehicle. WiTricity's patented wireless energy transfer technology makes use of highly resonant magnetic coupling, and can efficiently transfer power over significantly larger distances and allow more misalignment due to parking than inductive systems can. According to Eric Giler, Chief Executive Officer, WiTricity, their wireless system can already transfer over 3,300 watts - enough to fully charge an electric car at the same rate as most residential plug-in chargers.

This technology might just provide a large boon to electric vehicle infrastructure in the future. Residential buildings or offices can do away with complex and messy wired charging points and would make life significantly easy for owners of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Randy Sumner, Director, Global Hybrid Vehicle Development of Delphi Packard said “This is groundbreaking technology that could enable automotive manufacturers to integrate wireless charging directly into the design of their hybrid and electric vehicles. Delphi’s expertise in global engineering, validation and manufacturing coupled with WiTricity’s patented wireless energy transfer technology uniquely positions us to make wireless charging of electric vehicles a reality.” Sumner also added that wireless charging technology will need to co-exist with plug-in charging solutions, so that electric vehicle drivers have the ability to charge their vehicle when they are away from their wireless charging source.