Wireless EV Charging Coming In 2017

According to research and marketing firm Strategy Analytics, the biggest turn-off for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicle shoppers is the hassle of manipulating bulky charging cables. A more user-friendly system would definitely help convince consumers looking at these types of cars.

The Strategic Analytics Powertrain, Body, Safety and Chassis Service report states that wireless charging systems are in development and could be available in 2017. Some automakers have already included them in the next product cycles of their vehicles.

The Society of Automotive Engineers, or SAE, is working on establishing a standard called J-2954, and recommendations could be released in late 2016. It is obviously imperative that everyone use the same standards, which would assure interoperability between brands and public infrastructures.

However, the technology would initially be limited to luxury-brand vehicles like BMW, Porsche, Mercedes-Benz and Audi, given the high cost of implementing the systems. "Once the hurdles of cost and standardization can be cleared after the first five years of deployment, then the long-term prospects could realize a mass market potential, with the possibility they could even displace conductive charging systems by 2028," said Kevin Mak, Senior Analyst in the Automotive Electronics Service at Strategy Analytics.