WIRELESS charging for electric cars will soon arrive in UK streets and car parks in collaboration between Connected Kerb and German induction technology company Magment.
The first UK instalment of wireless/induction charging will be brought across multiple public sites; on-street residential, car parks, public service and taxi ranks.
The technology is said to make electric vehicles more accessible to those with disabilities and more convenient to everyone, as the demand continues to rise.
Connected Kerb’s CEO, Chris Pateman-Jones said: “Induction charging will arrive faster than perhaps many people think. Vehicle manufacturers are increasingly including induction charging technology in their new models but at present there are only a handful of induction-enabled EV charge points. We aim to change that. We’re delighted to be leading the charge in this exciting area with the team at Magment.”
Connected Kerb expect to begin early UK deployment within the next two months, with international deployment from mid-2020.
The transition to wireless charging will remove the need for drivers to plug-in via a charging cable, instead enabling them to charge by parking over the inductive pad which is sunk beneath the road.
Connected Kerb is the only charging company to deploy its charging technology beneath the ground and to provide induction capabilities within its existing charge points as a simple upgrade.
Mr Pateman-Jones continued: “Induction charging will become a ubiquitous technology over the coming few years, and for good reason. It’s just as fast as traditional charging, however, it’s convenient, simple and provides a compelling user experience.
“Importantly, in the short term, induction opens up electric vehicles for disabled people, who are currently excluded from them by trailing cables and accessibility. Longer term, induction charging will be the path to ubiquitous electrification of all parking bays without the street furniture and cable clutter that dominates charge point technology today.”
Induction chargers use an induction coil to generate an alternating electromagnetic field from within a charging base, while a second induction coil in the vehicle converts the electromagnetic field back into electricity that charges the battery without requiring a physical connection.
Magment’s CEO, Mauricio Esguerra, added: “Connected Kerb’s separation of the charger from the plug is a perfect solution for Magment’s technologies. We like the way in which supporting induction charging becomes a logical upgrade with Connected Kerb’s technology, not a new infrastructure build.
“We’re looking forward to driving ubiquitous, user-friendly and efficient charge points into the UK market with the Connected Kerb’s team.”
