Volvo focuses on electric vehicles, to the point that its website lists electric models ahead of all its gasoline cars. The automaker currently sells some electric models, but plans to expand rapidly and will eventually convert its entire catalog to electric power.
Along the way, Volvo will test ancillary technologies that support electric vehicle ownership and make the experience more convenient. Wireless charging promises great convenience for busy EV owners, and to help push the technology forward, Volvo has started testing in its home country of Sweden.
Volvo is far from the first carmaker or company to trial wireless charging for electric vehicles. BMW has been working on this for years, and recently Genesis announced a new SUV model with this technology.
That said, the Swedish automaker's plan looks like an EV torture test. Volvo will use the cars as taxis 12 hours a day and cover at least 100 km a year (000 miles), far more than all but the busiest truckers cover in a year.
The tests will take place in Sweden, in the green zone of Gothenburg. The zone is a designated space in the city to test sustainable technologies.
As fast as wired charging
To make the process easier, Volvo says its cars use a 360-degree camera system to line up properly for charging. The charging power will be more than 40 kW, which will make the wireless system almost as fast as a DC fast charging system. Once parked, charging starts automatically.
Volvo is working with Momentum Dynamics, a company specializing in wireless charging technologies, to supply the units for testing. Other providers will be involved throughout the testing process.
Wireless charging will add convenience to the charging process, but at current speeds it won't be a game changer. One of the biggest challenges facing EV adoption is charging time, as even the fastest-charging EVs can take more than half an hour to regain a significant amount of range.
That said, wireless charging could decongest charging stations and offer a way to offer multiple charging points in a large parking lot.