Can EVs be wirelessly charged?

[Volvo_Expert_Tech]

With its 800-volt architecture, the Cayenne Electric can charge at up to 400 kW at a public DC station, enough to fill its pack from 10 to 80 percent in about 16 minutes. The wireless system delivers about 11 kW for Level 2 charging at home.

11kW is a pretty decent charge rate but you would need a minimum 50amp breaker and 220 volt outlet like any other level 2 charger. So the question is, is it worth the cost (obviously only Porsche at this time) vs taking 4 seconds of your time to just plug the wall plug in?

 

[y_p_w]

Aren't EV battery packs hundreds or thousands of small batteries? Would they all get the same state of charge?

The batteries aren’t directly charged. The system produces electricity, which then charges the batteries the same as when connected to wired power or regenerative braking.

I would think the best application would be some sort of closed circuit, like a university shuttle bus. At least a small battery, but where the power provided is generally enough to power the bus alone.

 

[jghall00]

11kW is a pretty decent charge rate but you would need a minimum 50amp breaker and 220 volt outlet like any other level 2 charger. So the question is, is it worth the cost (obviously only Porsche at this time) vs taking 4 seconds of your time to just plug the wall plug in?

Porsche must think so. Some people are just looking at things to throw money at. Novelty and convenience have their price apart from utility. Here's a demo of it in action. Not something I would pay for, but I'm not rich.

 

[SC Maintenance]

The batteries aren’t directly charged. The system produces electricity, which then charges the batteries the same as when connected to wired power or regenerative braking.

I would think the best application would be some sort of closed circuit, like a university shuttle bus. At least a small battery, but where the power provided is generally enough to power the bus alone.

You guys already have that in San Francisco. A guy pulls a lever and it grabs a hemp rope underground. If you get the right car it drops you off right in front of the famous place for an Irish Coffee

 

[Pablo]

Any health hazards?

60hz won't kill you. But VA will.

But yeah I don't see the point.

 

[Kiwi_ME]

GM's EV-1 had this, at 6.6 kW according to the article.

 

[Torrid]

While it is possible and there are companies working on it, I don't think it's worth the wasted power to avoid the 2 seconds to plug in. I've even went away from wirelessly charging my phone aside from the pad in my car because it's slow and generates a bunch of heat for no real benefit.

 

[y_p_w]

You guys already have that in San Francisco. A guy pulls a lever and it grabs a hemp rope underground. If you get the right car it drops you off right in front of the famous place for an Irish Coffee

Hemp rope?

 

[y_p_w]

While it is possible and there are companies working on it, I don't think it's worth the wasted power to avoid the 2 seconds to plug in. I've even went away from wirelessly charging my phone aside from the pad in my car because it's slow and generates a bunch of heat for no real benefit.

I think the point might be to have an electrified roadway. Or even charging with tractors waiting to pull a load.

 

[Torrid]

I think the point might be to have an electrified roadway. Or even charging with tractors waiting to pull a load.

That has been mentioned, but it does make for quite the waste of energy.

 

[RaymondP]

Probably wouldn't buy an EV until "Inductive Charging" becomes available. Talked with Tesla at one of their showrooms a few years ago and was assure it was in development and would be available in a year or two. Still no sign of it. Seems retrograde that vehicles have so much embedded technology, but you still need to plug a cable into the vehicle to operate it. Would be very cool to just drive into the garage and park over a charging pad so all would be good.

 

[jghall00]

Probably wouldn't buy an EV until "Inductive Charging" becomes available.

It takes seconds to plug in. Not minutes, seconds. You do it twice per day. When you depart in the AM, and when you return in the evening.

 

[SC Maintenance]

It takes seconds to plug in. Not minutes, seconds. You do it twice per day. When you depart in the AM, and when you return in the evening.

Well, in fairness the EV crowd complains about a couple minute stop at the gas station once a week - so sorta in the same ballpark. I agree with you - just pointing it out.

Whats that animated movie where humans have become to fat and lazy to even walk anymore?

 

[jghall00]

Whats that animated movie where humans have become to fat and lazy to even walk anymore?

Wall-E

Some gas stations are awful. The Costco locations in Socal were always packed with long lines. In my area it's not so bad, but I hate burning gas to go get gas. And now I'm due for yet another oil change.

 

[oil pan 4]

Thanks. That article is almost a year old, has it gone public yet?

There's always been "wireless charging" going back to at least the 90s. So no and always for the same reasons.
Cost, losses, speed, reliability and cost.

 

[Torrid]

Well, in fairness the EV crowd complains about a couple minute stop at the gas station once a week - so sorta in the same ballpark. I agree with you - just pointing it out.

Whats that animated movie where humans have become to fat and lazy to even walk anymore?

Stopping for gas twice a week is a pain, which is what I was doing. When I get home I take my cooler out of my hatch. That's when I plug in. Pumping fuel when it is cold is a genuine hassle and a waste of 5 minute of my time.

As far as the fat and lazy thing, I'm in ridiculously good shape at 41. Not to brag, but I have visible abs. I walk a lot. My workouts are pretty intense. I just dont like wasting time and money..

 

[JeffKeryk]

Charging at home has to be experienced to be appreciated. It sounds funny, but I have come to hate going to gas stations.
The rare times I do Supercharge, I go for a Starbucks Chai or whatever.
For my use case, EV fueling beats the snot outta ICE fueling.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Pumping fuel when it is cold is a genuine hassle and a waste of 5 minute of my time.

For my use case, EV fueling beats the snot outta ICE fueling.

OK, but then don't whine when someone else complains about being too lazy to plug there car in twice a day. Its the same.

Does your garage charger serve Fried Chicken like my gas station? .

Wall-E indeed.

 

[Torrid]

OK, but then don't whine when someone else complains about being too lazy to plug there car in twice a day. Its the same.

Does your garage charger serve Fried Chicken like my gas station? .

Wall-E indeed.

I didn't know taking 5 seconds at your final destination was the same level as 5 minutes out of the way for fuel. Baffling. What do you mean "plugging in twice a day"? Park car in garage, insert plug that is 6 inches from the car. The charge port door even opens itself. I've never had a gas car do that.

I don't eat mediocre gas station fried chicken or I wouldn't be in the shape I'm in. I stopped that before I stopped driving ICE vehicles. I make my own from scratch on occasion. There's some tired joke about a microwave vs. a grill around here...

 

[SC Maintenance]

I didn't know taking 5 seconds at your final destination was the same level as 5 minutes out of the way for fuel. Baffling. What do you mean "plugging in twice a day"? Park car in garage, insert plug that is 6 inches from the car. The charge port door even opens itself. I've never had a gas car do that.

I don't eat mediocre gas station fried chicken or I wouldn't be in the shape I'm in. I stopped that before I stopped driving ICE vehicles. I make my own from scratch on occasion. There's some tired joke about a microwave vs. a grill around here...

The funny part is not the hypocrisy, its the hypocrite.