The US-based Hyundai-Kia Technical Center has been awarded a grant to develop a wireless charging system in its Soul EV thanks to a grant from the US Department of Energy.
The engineers are working with California-based Mojo Mobility, a specialist in wireless power technology, to integrate the innovative technology into a compact-friendly format.
The system that has already been developed allows for misalignment between the vehicle and charging base, and has an 85% grid-to-vehicle efficiency, as well as being capable of transferring 10kW to the vehicle for fast charging. The project now enters the second phase of integrating the system in a more compact form to the Soul EV test car, followed by a real-world testing program using five of the cars equipped with the new technology. There is no news yet on when the new system might be available on the market.
Dr Sung Hwan Cho, president of the Hyundai-Kia Technical Center said, “Innovative technologies such as this align well with one of our core goals, which is to create a vehicle experience that is intuitive and easy for the consumer.”
September 1, 2015