Bavarian Motor Works wants to give you a truly disconnected (un-wired) eco-drive behind the wheels of their electric powered vehicles. BMW is said to be prepping up to release a wireless charging pad for recharging your electric car.
Yes, BMW electric vehicles are about to have a charging mat like those you use on your wireless charging smartphones. Although wireless charging is not a new concept, but, if BMW pulls it off, it will be the first time to be used on a car.
The car manufacturer intends to release a big charging pad for the 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid. The pad will connect to your typical 220-volt power outlet, and the vehicle using its sensor will direct you where to steer for optimum charging to take place.
How long will it take to charge?
BMW says you will only need 3.5 hours at 3.2kW of power to fully charge the 9.4kWh battery in the 530e. That’s just about the same recharge time you get when you plug the car into the power outlet using the cord.
The BMW wireless charging pad shown in the video above is still in the testing and evaluation phase and is yet to acquire the UL approval in North America. In other parts of the world, BMW is said set to release the wireless charging pad early next year; only for the 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid sedans.
The charging pads for other iPerformance PHEVs such as the 330e, 740e, X5, i3, and i8 electric cars are said to be in the pipeline for release later one.
Wireless Charging seems to be the buzzword right now
From the iPhones, the Samsungs, gang of other device makers, and now car maker BMW. Wireless charging seems to be the in-thing now. As to how much importance it will become in the transportation industry remains to be seen; especially in regards to the regulations by the agencies and municipalities around regions across the world where it will be rolled out.