Electric Vehicles
Electric Car Charging Minus Cords
There are cordless phones and cordless drills, so why not a cordless electric car? A German automaker is working on it.
Electric car charging plugs such as this one could become a thing of the past. (Photo By: Daimler)
Known as “inductive charging,” the process involves having electric vehicles equipped with a special charging coil. When the car is positioned over a charging coil in the ground, no cables are needed.
“We are keen to find out how the inductive charging process proves in daily use,” said Herbert Kohler, head of e-drive and future mobility in the research department of Daimler.
While earlier work has shown what Kohler called “the essential feasibility of the technology,” he said Daimler is poised to begin inductive charging tests in March on a modified electric Mercedes-Benz already in everyday use.
“A number of technical and financial issues also need to be resolved before we can really assess the marketability of this technology,” Kohler added.
The Mercedes will be based at a special energy efficient house in Berlin that is designed to generate more electricity than it uses. Some of that surplus electricity will be used to charge the car.
The inductive charging infrastructure is already integrated into the architecture of the house, down to the special parking space. A display system will help drivers to park in the best position over the charging coil.
Tags: Electric Vehicles