Can you imagine charging your electric car with a wireless system similar to the one you use with your mobile phone? The use of induction chargers for electric vehicles is currently very limited, but they have the potential to become the charging system of choice in the future.
Induction chargers work in the same way as the induction hob in your kitchen. It is an electrical circuit in the form of a coil that generates an electromagnetic field around it. The charging receiver, in this case, an electric car, also has a coil that, when interacting with the magnetic field of the charger, generates the electric charge, which reaches the battery, where it is stored.
This innovative system is much more convenient than conventional wired charging systems, but it also faces some drawbacks. We review the pros and cons of induction chargers for electric cars below.
The induction charger must be close to the charging receiver, that is, the coil of the electric car to work correctly. The ideal location would be in the center of a parking space, as this way the car would begin to charge automatically once parked. The size of the induction chargers is similar to that of a scale, so it seems like a very convenient system.
This system also allows the installation of induction chargers in public places, such as shopping centers or municipal parking lots, where cable chargers currently exist. The right to charge your car included in the fee would constitute an added value to the parking service. In addition, these charging devices would be anchored to the ground and, therefore, less exposed to vandal attacks than conventional chargers.
Induction charging is a complex system that does not guarantee 100% energy transfer. Additionally, wireless charging speed cannot compete with the fast charging capabilities of wired systems.
On the other hand, manufacturers should agree and establish a standardized induction charging system, as is the case with mobile devices. Even today, criteria are being unified with plugs! Using a common energy transfer protocol is key to the implementation of induction chargers in public places that we talked about before.
Not all cars can make use of this technology today. Induction charging systems would be reserved for future models, but this will depend on the demand they have at the present. Consumers also cannot afford to invest in an electric car with the risk that it will soon become obsolete. This raises a question: will models be able to incorporate a wireless charging system that they did not originally include? Everything will depend on the degree of dedication of the manufacturers to research into this technology.
