Skip to main content

Wireless electric vehicle charging system sales ‘to exceed 280,000 by 2020’

According to new research from Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, until recently, wireless charging equipment for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has had all the characteristics of a promising technology in search of a market. In the last six to twelve months, however, this has begun to change. Nearly all of the major PEV manufacturers have announced partnerships to develop wireless charging systems, and there are signs that such systems, installed at the factory or added at the dealershi
December 24, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
According to new research from 5644 Pike Research, a part of Navigant’s Energy Practice, until recently, wireless charging equipment for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) has had all the characteristics of a promising technology in search of a market. In the last six to twelve months, however, this has begun to change.

Nearly all of the major PEV manufacturers have announced partnerships to develop wireless charging systems, and there are signs that such systems, installed at the factory or added at the dealership, could become a market differentiator for electric vehicle (EV) models. Pike Research now predicts sales of wireless EV charging equipment will grow steadily through the remainder of the decade, reaching annual sales of 283,000 by 2020.

“They have also made other benefits of wireless charging, including the alleviation of range anxiety through frequent, brief top-offs via embedded, automatic wireless charging systems, much more evident. The experiences of EV owners have strengthened the case that the convenience of charging could be a major factor in purchase decisions,” says Pike editorial director Richard Martin.

 “They have also made other benefits of wireless charging, including the alleviation of range anxiety through frequent, brief top-offs via embedded, automatic wireless charging systems, much more evident.”

Many trials with OEM vehicles commenced in 2012. Publicly announced wireless charging vendor relationships include: 189 Siemens with 1731 BMW; WiTricity with Delphi and with car makers 1686 Toyota, 4962 Mitsubishi, and 2125 Audi; 213 Qualcomm with 2453 Renault and 33 Delta Motorsports; and 6265 Evatran with SPX Service Solutions, 1691 Google, 6266 Hertz and others. Currently, wireless EV charging systems are not on the commercial market, but at least one vendor intends to bring a system to market in the first half of 2013.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • EVs: Time for a rethink
    December 14, 2021
    Given a growing body of evidence that EVs are not the clean, green machines they are made out to be, Andrew Bunn suggests they can only be part of the puzzle – not the answer to environmental problems
  • First electric car ferry goes into operation in Norway
    May 19, 2015
    The world’s first electrical car and passenger ferry powered by batteries has entered service in Norway. The unique solution is a result of a competition that Ministry of Transport and Communications and the Norwegian Public Roads Administration launched in 2010. The ferry only uses 150 kWh per route, which corresponds to three days use of electricity in a standard Norwegian household. Built in conjunction with shipbuilder Fjellstrand, Siemens installed the complete electric propulsion system and install
  • Launch of first US smartphone commuter rail ticketing system
    November 13, 2012
    Customers in Massachusetts Bay on the US east coast can now purchase and then display rail tickets and passes using the MBTA mTicket app for iPhone and Android. Blackberry devices will also be supported soon. Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) and Masabi US, the transit mobile ticketing provider, jointly announced the launch of the US’ first full smartphone commuter rail ticketing system. The tickets are displayed on the phone’s screen as an encrypted barcode and as a human readable ticket.
  • Electric cars – do zero emissions add up?
    August 9, 2013
    Buying an electric car may seem to be the green option when the energy label states Zero CO2 emissions. But that’s not the whole story when you factor in the electricity required to charge the batteries, and associated CO2 emissions created in electricity generation; the green benefits then become less clear. According to Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA), the latest Renault Clio 4, dCi 90 ECO, emits 83 grams of CO2 per kilometre travelled. In comparison the Electric Nissan Leaf, requires 173 Watts of elec