Canadian Researchers Create Wireless Charger For Electric Cars

An anonymous reader writes "University of British Columbia researchers have developed a wireless charging system for electric cars. It involves a spinning magnet beneath the parked vehicle which turns another magnet in the underside of the car. Charging takes four hours and is about 90% as efficient as plugging in. From the article: '"One of the major challenges of electric vehicles is the need to connect cords and sockets in often cramped conditions and in bad weather," says David Woodson, managing director of UBC Building Operations. "Since we began testing the system, the feedback from drivers has been overwhelmingly positive." Four wireless charging stations have been installed at UBC's building operations parking lot. Tests show the system is more than 90 per cent efficient compared to a cable charge. A full charge takes four hours and enables the vehicle to run throughout an eight-hour shift.'"

Comments

Wind up cars return!

[__aaltlg1547]

I knew if I waited long enough I would get my wind-up toys back. But why aren't they using a big spring?

Brilliant Idea, but One Suggestion

[mtrachtenberg]

Brilliant. I'd make a teensy change. Replace the spinning magnet outside the car with a cable, and replace the spinning magnet and generator in the car's underbody with a plug. Run power through the cable to the plug, but only after there's been a handshake between the cable and the plug. Use the equipment that would spin the magnets to establish a physical connection between the cable and the plug.

I think the efficiency of this, compared to old techniques, will be closer to 100% of existing efficiency than to 90%.

Re:90% as efficent as a plug is good enough?

[viperidaenz]

And you need new solar panels every 20 years. There will undoubtedly be more maintenance costs as well.