Wireless charging for electric cars is getting closer every day

Last year, I remember reading somewhere (unfortunately I can’t recall where) about an inductive system for charging electric vehicles that Nissan was going to be developed. It seems that system may have come to nothing, or Nissan is still under research… But now two companies specialising in automotive electrical systems say they are developing a new wireless charging system.

Delphi Automotive and WiTricity Corp. have the idea that electric cars could charge their batteries simply by parking over special spaces, with chargers installed at ground level. An energy receiver located under the car is responsible for capturing the energy.

The new system appears able to charge batteries at the same rate as conventional wired systems. The possible energy transfer is around 3,300 watts, so it could easily replace the posts and charging points that use connection cables.

Nothing has yet been said about the dangers this energy transfer system may pose to humans. Some talk about brain damage if one stays close to (let alone exposed to) an electromagnetic field of this kind for a long time. Delphi and WiTricity say the system is not a direct electromagnetic field, since the car does not need to be sitting directly on top of the charging point (far-field), but can be at a certain distance.

Source | Autocar