Wireless charging of electric cars has been a fun topic for as long as I’ve been writing about electric cars (more than a decade). Still, it’s not exactly common (it’s almost unheard of) to find one in an EV owner’s garage. Companies aren’t giving up just yet, and neither are Siemens and MAHLE, who just… formed a team to collaborate on wireless charging of EVs.
“The two companies plan to work together to close gaps in the standardization of inductive charging systems,” they write. That means working together on continuous technological innovation, but also working together on interoperability tests.
The market doesn’t actually exist at the moment, but the potential is huge. With inductive charging of electric vehicles, owners no longer need to plug in or out. “Wireless charging of electric vehicles is emerging as an important market for the future. Besides making the lives of drivers, who no longer have to fiddle with cables and connectors, a lot easier, it is a crucial requirement for the autonomous mobility of tomorrow. The transfer efficiency of wireless inductive charging is comparable to plug-in systems,” said Stefan Perras, Head of Pre-development and Innovation for Charging Infrastructure at Siemens AG.
Of course, it should still be cost-competitive enough to entice buyers to buy an inductive wireless charging device instead of a regular wall charger. Naturally, Siemens knows a thing or two about this, because it has been selling wall chargers for the home for years. It also produces fast charging hardware for DC, and much more widely for electrical systems.
“Siemens core expertise in smart buildings and smart grids makes us uniquely positioned to meet our customers’ needs with comprehensive solutions and help them design, install and manage sustainable charging solutions for a brighter future” , Perras adds.
“We are very pleased that we have found a strong partner in Siemens to make great progress in the field of inductive charging. The combined experience of both companies will give us a clear competitive advantage,” said Harald Straky, Vice President for Global Development in Mechatronics and Electronics at MAHLE.
Featured image: Wireless charging setup for electric vehicles. Image courtesy of Siemens.
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