Nearly 300,000 electric vehicles were sold in the U.S. in Q2 2023. That’s a 48.4% jump from the same period the year before, and it’s a powerful indicator of how EVs are driving deeper and deeper into the mainstream. At the same time, ChargeLab research shows that 72.2% of EV owners experience range anxiety on a weekly basis, and nearly 21% have met charging failures and equipment malfunctions at public charging stations.
EV wireless charging could be the next EV trend, speeding up adoption and improving the EV owner experience. Research even shows that 81% of owners and prospective owners are very to extremely interested in the technology. There’s a very real chance it will change the market—and the world—in just a few short years.
Today and tomorrow: The rise of wireless EV charging while driving
EV wireless charging uses resonant electromagnetic induction (also known as inductive charging). It’s the same tech that allows for wireless phone charging and induction cooking, and it opens up a world of possibilities for EV users.
Imagine driving your EV cross-country and watching your battery recharge while you do. One of the leading EV wireless charging companies, Electreon, demonstrated this possibility in 2021. The Israeli company turned a mile of road into a wireless charging dock as part of a pilot project conducted with the Swedish government. Coils installed under the asphalt transferred energy to receivers under a bus and a truck as each drove over. The result was seamless wireless EV charging while driving. Goodbye range anxiety!
Both the system’s charging hardware and management stations are underground, protected from tampering and the elements. “It’s invisible, so when you look at the road, you don’t see anything,” project manager Petra Carlenarson told Euroenews in 2022.
This tech has even made its way to North America. Electreon electrified a quarter mile of charging road in Detroit, Michigan, in 2023.
Right now, wireless EV charging faces three main speed bumps. The first is speed itself: induction chargers have yet to reach the charging speeds of Level 3 chargers. The second is cost, as installing coils underneath roads quickly grows expensive.
The third and final problem is a chicken/egg conundrum. By now, you’re likely wondering, “What cars have wireless charging already?”
The answer (in North America at least) is just one: the Mercedes Benz S550e. Why? Because there are so few places to actually use wireless charging. Without cars on the market that can use wireless charging, there’s little reason to invest in building wireless charging roads. If there is no wireless-charging infrastructure, there’s little incentive to build cars that use them. But there may be a way out of this feedback loop.
Ready to take your understanding of the future of EV charging to the next level? Check out our full guide on The tech powering what's next.
Five years from now: Public investment and shared standards
Public investment may help solve this chicken/egg challenge. Projects across the US have started installing coils under roadways and receivers under buses:
- Antelope Valley Transit Authority in Los Angeles County has 15 wireless charging stations created by Wave Charging.
- Indianapolis is using wireless charging stations made by Chinese EV giant BYD Co., and has begun a project to turn some of its highways into charging roads with Pennsylvania-based charging startup InductEV.
- Seattle's new rapid transit bus line, Stride, will also use InductEV's wireless, on-route charging
These projects could create practical, immediate reasons for EV manufacturers to start making and selling wireless charging EVs. They might also give consumers a reason to own them.
Another promising near-future step: SAE International finalized its first standard for wireless charging for light-duty vehicles in 2022. Now that this standard is in place, developers have a guide for the kind of infrastructure they’ll need to install in their apartment buildings, parking lots, and more to enable EV wireless charging. Standards for heavy-duty vehicles are on their way, and when they arrive, they’ll open the door to up to 500-kilowatt charging. That could unlock wireless Level 3 charging.
Finally, German, American, and Japanese manufacturers are all reportedly planning to deploy vehicles with wireless charging tech in the next five years. That’s going to create a world of opportunity for savvy developers looking to tap into rising EV demand. And it’s not the only opportunity around. For example, Canada’s Zero-Emission Vehicle Infrastructure Program (ZEVIP) will offset up to half the cost of installing a charging station.
To learn more about the state of EV opportunity, read Chargelab’s market summary ebook.
10 years from now: Wireless EV charging, meet consumers
Every quarter, EVs gain ground. The worldwide EV market is projected to hit $623 billion in revenue this year, and it’s expected to reach $906.7 billion by 2028. Chrysler even says it will only sell electric vehicles by the end of 2028, with Honda following by 2040. As these vehicles grow more popular, wireless charging for EV users will likely grow alongside it.
Although dynamic charging is exciting, it’s far from the only wireless charging use case. Stationary wireless charging could make it easy for cars to perform autonomous charging. This tech is great for fleets because it makes charging so much more time-efficient. That’s why so many municipalities have started incorporating it into their bus networks. These applications can also benefit from economies of scale, which may help make them more affordable.
Next up will likely be short-haul and regional trucks, taxis, fire trucks, and other fleet vehicles that need to transition very quickly from charging to driving. When wireless EV charging does reach consumers, it will likely start in luxury vehicles. These customers will be able to afford the premium placed on wireless-enabled EVs. As they buy in, they’ll increase the demand for dynamic charging roads, and public policy could respond by building the necessary infrastructure.
Once wireless charging reaches a critical mass, it could start giving back. Stationary wireless charging, in particular, would work well with two-way charging. Two-way charging, or vehicle-to-grid, allows cars to act as mobile batteries. If they have excess charge when parked, they can return it to a user’s house or office. That helps ensure clean energy achieves full utilization, prevents blackouts and brownouts, and may even earn EV owners passive income from electrical companies.
Stay current with ChargeLab
The world of EV charging moves fast, with new technologies and opportunities popping up constantly. That’s why ChargeLab partners with stakeholders from every corner of the industry. Manufacturers, turnkey providers, and distributors all have a part to play in bringing this revolutionary technology to the people. If you’re looking to step into EV charging, we’ve got the connections and the software to help. Reach out today.
