The Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) and Mojo Mobility recently completed a three-year project to develop a fast-charging, compact, wireless power transfer system for the Kia Soul electric vehicle (EV).
The researchers worked to develop a system capable of transferring more than 10 kilowatts while targeting an 85 percent grid-to-vehicle efficiency. The system was then installed on five Soul EVs for testing.
Drivers park their car above the transmitter. An electromagnetic field transfers energy between a coil in the transmitter and a coil on the receiver which is on the bottom of the vehicle. Energy is sent through an inductive coupling to an electrical device, which charges the battery.
“We’re thrilled with the success of the system and its efficiency,” William Freels, HATCI president, said. “We set out to develop wireless charging that has real-world applications and is easy to use for the consumer. Now, with this fleet of wireless Soul EVs, we can clearly see a future of unplugged electric vehicles.”
The project was in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
HATCI has no plans to mass produce the wireless charging system. It may, however, be used to develop systems for future Kia EVs.