Volvo Begins Wireless Charging Tests For Electric Cars With Technology Over 40Kw

Volvo Is Testing a New Wireless Charging System for Electric Cars That Has the Potential to Increase Electric Vehicle Sales by Eliminating Concerns About Where to Charge

Volvo is testing a charging solution in Sweden that could enable parking an electric car and driving later with a fully charged battery. Wireless charging technology has already been applied to smartphones and many other devices with considerable success. However, wirelessly charging an electric vehicle, given the size and performance of its battery, is a significantly greater challenge.

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Volvo Aims to Be the First Automaker to Launch a Wireless Charger for Electric Cars on a Global Scale

The batteries in electric cars are modified lithium-ion batteries, designed similarly to those used in laptops and electronic devices. These batteries are chosen for their high energy density and longer life cycles, but vary in resistance, charging speed, and duration.

When it comes to smartphones, the lithium battery can be wirelessly charged by simply placing it on a pad, using a process known as inductive charging, and a similar process is about to be tested on electric cars by Volvo.

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Volvo’s Project Is Promising, but It’s Not the Only One

Volvo is far from the first company to test wireless electric vehicle charging systems. For example, a company called Genesis has an SUV model that can be wirelessly charged, and BMW has been testing the technology for years.

However, some have gone even further by imagining a world where an electric car is charged simply by driving on the road. Last year, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced plans to construct the first concrete-paved highway with wireless, non-contact charging. Working with Purdue University and other partners, the goal is to turn a section of the interstate highway into a wireless charger.

Michigan also recently announced a similar project. The Michigan government awarded its first wireless electric vehicle road charging system contract to Electreon. A mile of road in Detroit will be transformed into a public wireless charging lane. Electric cars will be able to charge while in motion, during traffic jams, or when stopped. Outside the U.S., the United Kingdom, Norway, and other European countries are also investing in electric vehicle charging roads.

As the future of mobility continues to innovate with disruptive technology, charging an electric vehicle may soon become a thing of the past. “The Green Zone of Gothenburg City allows us to experiment with new technologies in a real environment and evaluate them over time for a possible broader future introduction,” said Mats Moberg, head of research and development at Volvo Cars.

Volvo’s Tests Will Take Place in Sweden

Volvo announced that it will begin testing wireless charging stations in Sweden, with the testing program scheduled to last three years. The wireless chargers will provide 40 kilowatts of power, which is approximately the same as most wired DC fast chargers.

Using a fleet of fully electric Volvo XC40 Recharge taxis from the largest taxi operator in the Nordic region, the cars will be automatically charged when parked on a charging platform. The electric taxi fleet will be driven for 12 hours a day with a goal of covering 100,000 km per year. The test will determine performance, durability, and future commercial adaptations.