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Gaping gap between EV wireless and plug-in charging technologies
10 July 2019
(Excerpt)
The future of automotive is electric and autonomous. While
almost all automakers have set up a roadmap to fully embrace
electric vehicles (EV), many of them are now also channeling a good
chunk of their investments towards developing autonomous driving
technologies. Although real-world application of electrically
powered autonomous vehicles is still at a nascent stage, such cars
will raise the need for quite a few complementary technologies to
support their smooth operations. One such technology is a wireless
charging system, also called inductive charging.
Improving prospects
Though the segment is not evolving as fast as the plug-in
charging ecosystem, it has seen some major developments lately.
Earlier this year, wireless charging technology start-up WiTricity
acquired Qualcomm's wireless technology platform 'Halo'. The deal
will provide WiTricity with access to over 1,500 patents and patent
applications related to wireless charging. The acquisition will
boost WiTricity's system development capabilities, given that the
company now owns the two most widely accepted configurations for EV
wireless charging, the circular coil design, used by itself, and
the 'Double D' setup, patented and used by Qualcomm Halo. Both
designs are used by automakers to charge vehicles. While Qualcomm
Halo is used by automakers such as Mercedes-Benz, WiTricity has
partnered with OEMs such as Nissan and Hyundai. Last year, BMW's
530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid became the first model with a
wireless charging system, based on WiTricity technology, to be
commercially available.
Several other tier-1 developers have also acquired licenses for
the two technologies. Preh and Lumen have access to licenses for
Qualcomm Halo's Double D technology, whereas WiTricity has given
licenses to companies such as Mahle, Furakawa Electric, Zhejiang
VIE Science & Technology, South Korea-based supplier Yura, and
China-based Anjie Wireless. The increasing number of license
agreements with the tier 1s is a positive indication towards the
industry's growing confidence in the technology and its
prospects.
Despite the acquisition, WiTricity has said that it would
continue to support and advance the 'Double D' technology and
"Qualcomm licensees will have the same rights as before, access to
the same technology as before". According to David Schatz, part of
WiTricity's Global Automotive Business Development team, what
technology WiTricity pursues will depend on OEMs and their
preferences. "There is no religious devotion to our circular coil
technology. Some OEMs may offer both coil technologies driven by
technical specification and package restrictions. Car makers may
also want proprietary systems and could be more concerned with
schedule and costs," Schatz told IHS Markit.
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