German automaker BMW has talked more of its plans to roll out a new wireless charging system for its electric vehicles, which has the potential to cut charging times down by around 60%.
Wireless charging is just beginning to make its way into the wild with high-end Smartphones, but how about an electric vehicle you could charge without cables? Game-changer or of no real benefit?
Well, it’s clear BMW is in the side of the former, having announced a project to bring wireless charging technology to both the i8 and i3 electric cars, along with the X5 which is set to launch later in the year. In conjunction with Daimler, BMW is building an inductive charging system which will eventually allow drivers to simply park their compatible vehicles over a floor-mounted plate, which would then wirelessly charge the car’s battery. According to BMW, full charging using the wireless induction currently takes just three hours and 90% efficiency has already been reached.
By contrast, the current charge-cycle for a BMW EV is more in the region of eight hours.
Another bonus of the wireless charging system is that it would be completely weather-proof and suitable for use in all conditions, BMW reports. The whole charging system will eventually allow for real-time monitoring by way of a Smartphone or Tablet PC, while will enable the car’s driver to keep tabs on how much juice is left in the batteries and how much more time is needed to charge them again.
BMW joins Toyota as one of the few major brands looking into wireless charging for its electric vehicles.
