The EV charging industry is growing quickly in the United States and worldwide. According to Markets and Markets, “The global EV charging station market was valued at $11.9 billion in 2022, and is expected to reach $76.9 billion by 2027, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45% during the forecast period 2022-2027.”

As electric vehicles (EVs) become increasingly prevalent, the need for efficient and convenient charging solutions has never been greater. Wired EV charging has been the traditional method of refueling electric vehicles, but technological advancements have introduced wireless EV charging as a superior alternative. There are numerous advantages of wireless EV charging over plugged charging, including convenience, safety, reduced wear and tear, and the potential to transform how we interact with EVs. InductEV is the leading company in the wireless EV charging space.

Bogdan Proca, Electrical Engineering Manager at InductEV, gave an example of how wireless EV charging is superior to plugged EV charging. Proca used electric transit buses for the example. InductEV has installed wireless EV charging for many transit companies across the United States, which are currently enjoying the many benefits, including significant cost savings.

Proca said: “Traditionally, electric transit vehicles commence their routes with a fully charged battery and do not recharge until it is completely depleted. For longer routes, it is not uncommon to require a second bus to cover the same shift as the battery of the first bus runs out before the shift ends. By incorporating wireless charging stations at frequent stops, operators can now complete a shift using a single bus by gradually adding energy to the battery during these stops. While one could argue that plug chargers could also be theoretically installed at the same stops, this option often proves impractical due to space constraints on existing infrastructure and the extra effort required to plug and unplug for a short charging session, given the weight of high-power cables and connectors. In contrast, a wireless solution not only eliminates space limitations and driver effort but also enables the agency to avoid the need to purchase an additional bus. This becomes an even more attractive solution when certain bus stations are shared by multiple routes, which is frequently the case.”

*(Image: wireless ev charging pad at a bus stop, installed by InductEV)*

Convenience and simplified charging

Wireless EV charging offers unparalleled convenience to EV owners and fleet managers. With traditional chargers using cables plugged into vehicles, drivers must connect a cable to their vehicle, find the charging port, and ensure a secure connection. This process can be time-consuming, inconvenient and unsafe, especially in adverse weather conditions.

On the other hand, wireless EV charging eliminates the need for cables and physical connections. It uses inductive charging technology, transferring energy between a charging pad on the ground and a receiver pad on the vehicle. This means that all the driver needs to do is park the car over the charging pad, and charging begins automatically, within seconds. Such a seamless charging experience saves time and effort for fleet managers and EV owners, making it an ideal solution for private fleet charging stations, or public charging stations.

Safety and durability

Safety is an important issue when dealing with electricity, especially in a public charging environment. Plugged EV charging systems expose charging cables and connectors to weather, vandalism, and potential damage. These exposed components can lead to safety hazards, such as tripping hazards or the risk of electrocution if damaged. Wireless charging systems conform to the ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection) guidelines.

On the other hand, wireless EV charging ensures a safer charging process. Since there are no exposed connectors or cables, the risk of physical damage and electrical hazards is minimized. The charging pad's construction is robust and meant to handle harsh weather conditions and heavy loads, ensuring a much more durable and longer-lasting infrastructure.

Reduced wear and tear

Traditional plugged charging requires drivers to manually connect and disconnect the charging cable multiple times daily, resulting in wear and tear on the cable and the vehicle's charging port. Over time, this can lead to decreased charging efficiency and increased maintenance costs.

Wireless EV charging, however, eliminates these physical connections, reducing wear and tear on both the charging infrastructure and the EV's charging port. This advantage extends the lifespan of the charging components and lowers maintenance costs for EV owners and fleet managers.

Equal charging efficiency to plugged charging

Plugged EV charging systems can suffer from inefficiencies due to factors like cable resistance and imperfect connections. These inefficiencies can lead to power losses and extended charging times.

Wireless EV charging has improved charging efficiency thanks to technological advancements. Inductive charging technology allows for efficient power transfer, resulting in charging times equal to or better than plugged charging. Wireless EV charging is not less efficient than plugged EV charging, as many people believe. The two charging types have virtually the same efficiency of 90%. Additionally, modern wireless charging systems can dynamically adjust the power output based on the battery's state of charge, maximizing efficiency and reducing overall charging times.

Autonomous charging

One of the most promising aspects of wireless EV charging is its potential to enable autonomous charging. With the advancement of self-driving technology, autonomous electric vehicles are becoming a reality. In this scenario, vehicles could communicate with charging infrastructure and autonomously position themselves over charging pads for automatic recharging without human intervention.

This level of automation would revolutionize the EV charging experience, making it more convenient and user-friendly. Additionally, it would enable electric fleets, such as autonomous taxis and delivery vehicles, to operate efficiently without relying on human intervention for charging.

Wired charging is converging on the Tesla approach, wireless standards on the way

Plugged EV charging is now converging on Tesla’s NACS standard, finally reducing confusion and frustration among EV drivers. Historically these drivers frequently could not easily charge (or charge at all) due to hardware, cable, plug and software incompatibility. Leading standards organization SAE International adopted the first wireless EV charging global standard SAE J2954. The standard specifies both the EV and electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) ground-system requirements for wireless charging of electric vehicles (EV), avoiding any problems with compatibility.

*(Image by A. Krebs from Pixabay, plugged EV charging)*

Wireless EV charging, a paradigm shift

Wireless EV charging represents a paradigm shift in the world of electric vehicles. Its numerous advantages, including convenience, safety, reduced wear and tear, increased efficiency, and the potential for autonomous charging, make it a superior alternative to traditional plugged charging. As technology continues to evolve, wireless EV charging is poised to become the standard for EV refueling, driving us toward a future where charging your electric vehicle is as effortless as parking it.

Wireless EV charging works in any weather conditions, with better economic benefits

Some of the many benefits of wireless EV charging are that rain, snow, and extreme hot or cold temperatures do not affect energy transfer. In most cases, the operating expenses of wireless EV charging are less than wired charging. Costs are reduced by around 50% per year for switching to wireless, and the total cost of ownership is typically 30% lower.

InductEV, the global wireless EV charging leader

InductEV, based in Pennsylvania, has completed many successful wireless EV charging projects around the globe. These include electric public transportation buses in Washington, Indianapolis, IN, Chattanooga, TN, Martha's Vineyard, MA, Washington, Oregon, California, and other states. The company specializes in high-power wireless EV charging, such as drayage trucks.

InductEV has installed industry-leading wireless EV charging around the globe in many different applications. One example is highly efficient wireless EV charging stations for many bus fleets across the United States. Another use case is a taxi fleet of electric Volvo XC40 SUVs charged wirelessly by InductEV in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Written by Bill Pierce, Publisher EVinfo.net

Why Wireless EV Charging is Superior to Plugged EV Charging