BMW and Daimler to work on EV wireless charging

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You’ll soon be able to say goodbye to plugging up your EV up every night. BMW Group and Daimler have announced a joint venture in the development and implementation of a standardised technology for inductive wireless charging for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Fleet testing will soon commence on the Mercedes-Benz S 500 Plug-In Hybrid.

The system consists of two components – a base plate that contains the primary coil, located on the floor under which the vehicle parks on, and a secondary coil tucked away into the under tray of the car. Electrical energy flows through the alternating electromagnetic field generated by the two coils, charging the car wirelessly at a rate of 3.6 kW and at over 90% efficiency.

The current rate of charging will ensure that a typical plug-in hybrid could be fully charged in under three hours (in fact, it took less than two hours to charge an BMW i8 using a fully-working prototype). Moving forward, engineers are hoping to up the charging rate to 7 kW, which would be enough for a fully electric vehicle like the i3 (which has a higher energy storage capacity) to be fully charged overnight.

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The wireless charging technology is unaffected by adverse weather conditions such as rain or snow, meaning that the setup can even be installed outdoors. Ambient electromagnetic radiation is also kept to a minimum, and constant monitoring of the space between the primary and secondary coils allows the charging to be halted instantly if a foreign body is detected. So, no unintentionally frying your cat, then.

Daimler has also announced revised performance and fuel efficiency figures for the S 500 Plug-In Hybrid. With a combined 436 hp and 650 Nm from both its 3.0 litre biturbo V6 and an electric motor, the top W222 S-Class hybrid will be able to sprint to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds (0.3 seconds faster than previously quoted) while returning just 2.8 litres per 100 km (3.0 litres per 100 km before) and 65 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

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Jonathan Lee

After trying to pursue a career in product design, Jonathan Lee decided to make the sideways jump into the world of car journalism instead. He therefore appreciates the aesthetic appeal of a car, but for him, the driving experience is still second to none.

 

Comments

  • Same L0rr on Jul 11, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    Well done, good job.

    Some car company can’t even do the battery right, and often its fanboys link it with national pride.

    We should feel proud or ashamed of it?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 2
    • Nikola tesla on Jul 11, 2014 at 8:45 pm

      To you everything is related to proton.
      Give it a rest, friend.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 2
    • abuyai123 on Jul 12, 2014 at 12:04 am

      Proton can have that. The only proton dont have is ability to change mindset of people just like you. Keep bash. If not good, complaint. If good and expensive, complaint expensive, if not safe complaint not safe. If NCAP got even 10 star complaint fuel consumption. If fuel ok, complaint about durability and so on. Never ended.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Kelvin on Jul 11, 2014 at 7:37 pm

    Unless your cat is a robot, I’m sure it’ll be fine.

    The more worrying issue is for people with pacemakers.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • rocky balboa on Jul 11, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    Mercedes and BMW cooperate together, the result should be remarkable :)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • abuyai123 on Jul 12, 2014 at 12:06 am

      But the price for service? Huuu…. cannot do under tree service. Even change engine oil need to set computer

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 2
  • Simple Guy on Jul 11, 2014 at 10:20 pm

    I am curious whether this causes any harm to our health as it must be using extremely powerful magnetic field to transfer the energy from the charging coil to the receiver coil under the car. Electromagnetic radiation may be an issue?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 2
    • abuyai123 on Jul 11, 2014 at 11:59 pm

      Of course dear… same like using cellphone. But people want it… so it means… risk retention by user

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • Heng Lee on Jul 12, 2014 at 5:10 am

      You read the article?

      ‘Ambient electromagnetic radiation is also kept to a minimum, and constant monitoring of the space between the primary and secondary coils allows the charging to be halted instantly if a foreign body is detected. ‘

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • Nikola tesla on Jul 12, 2014 at 10:36 am

    It is just like a transformer. No big deal.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 1
  • EnergyAnalyst on Jul 12, 2014 at 1:48 pm

    Hurry Hurry hurry . These kind of Wireless Charging technology is one of the reason holding up China in effectively getting more EV on the already polluted roads there

    Tesla already solve the range issue. Now it is up to you Germans to develop the wireless charging. Go go go cordless

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • So many lithium ion batteries meaning more rare earth refinery? If yes, how do we strike a balance between eco frenly cars and moving away with renewable energy cars?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
    • Didn’t you hear that University of California has manage to substitute normal graphite with sand for anode in Lithium-ion battery? Also there are some researches for graphene as well as Li-air batteries?

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • We would have this tech 50 years ago if Nikola Tesla can live for another 5 years in his existence

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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