A list of companies that are vying to build the future of contactless charging of electric cars

As the introduction of electric cars is growing around the world, start-ups are emerging to give drivers not only more charging places, but also more ways to do so. Some even hope to leave the plug behind: wireless charging of electric vehicles is at an advanced stage in the overall charging business, which could reach more than $ 207.5 billion by 2030, according to Guidehouse Insights.

Instead of having to use charging equipment that requires short cables and extensive utilities, properly equipped vehicles can simply park or drive over a wireless charging pad and run. Charging technology can be placed in parking lots or structures, or in depots for electric vans and trucks, cars and buses.

Wireless charging is a “nascent market with a lot of growth potential,” said Scott Shepard, chief research analyst and leading insight group at Guidehouse Insights.

But Guidehouse also predicts that wireless chargers could account for only 2% of the market by 2030 (with the number of wireless chargers being only part of the total chargers there), and challenges lie ahead. Industry standards for the technology are still being developed. And even when it’s more common, it can be mostly a first-class market purchase.

If they manage to overcome these challenges, wireless charging provides interesting opportunities.

WiTricity

Headquarters: Watertown, Massachusetts

Founded: 2007

Funding: $ 140 million

Perhaps the most famous in the wireless industry is WiTricity. Its technology for wireless magnetic resonance imaging debuted on the Hyundai Genesis GV60 in South Korea in October. The company is currently licensing its technology to vendors who are building the component needed by vehicles to charge wirelessly, although it plans to launch products on its own. He also acquired Qualcomm Halo, a competitor in the space.

Electreon

Headquarters: Tel Aviv, Israel

Founded: 2013

Funding: $ 50 million

Electreon already has five public wireless charging projects in the works: one in Sweden, Israel and Italy and two in Germany (including a pilot to test Volkswagen’s technology). He set up a $ 9.4 million trade partnership to provide infrastructure for 200 buses operated by Dan Bus, Israel’s main operator.

Here

Headquarters: Brooklyn, New York

Founded: 2011

Funding: $ 10 million

This includes wireless equipment for the car itself (both a vehicle pad and a battery adapter that can be installed by a car manufacturer or upgraded as part of a secondary shopping kit), a wireless power pad that goes on the road , the accompanying power plant and a mobile application that provides route planning, remote payment and billing management.

Hevo can provide cordless charging at an initial speed of 24 mph. Its technology is currently available as an option for fleet spare parts.

Wave

Headquarters: Salt Lake City, Utah

Founded: 2011

Funding: Acquired from Ideanomics for $ 50 million

Wave’s inductive charging technology pushes power through the air to the vehicle being charged. Wave is led by Aaron Gilmore, who previously worked for electric truck maker BYD. There he saw first-hand the restrictions that prevent fleets from being electrified.

Momentum Dynamics

Headquarters: Malvern, Pennsylvania

Founded: 2009

Funding: $ 70 million

Momentum Dynamics is led by founder Andrew Doug, whose time at NASA and inductive charging work for the International Space Station inspired the company.

His pilot project in Oslo has made electric taxis there more efficient. Momentum Dynamics charging signs were installed in taxi stands, where taxis equipped with a receiver were parked. Norway is one of the world’s most tuned countries for electric vehicles: nearly two-thirds of the new passenger cars sold there in 2021 are electric.

Integrated Roadways

Headquarters: Kansas City, Missouri

Founded: 2006

Funding: $ 3.5 million

Integrated Roadways’ “smart pavement technology” is installed inside the roadway or in a parking space to enable it, such as providing connected vehicles with navigation or traffic information.

Integrated Roadways says it can also deploy its own wireless technology or third-party system to its “real estate” – and then provide billing feedback. The goal is to provide cities and states with a wireless solution that requires a minimum amount of construction. The team can then monitor the status and speed of the vehicle’s charging, set tariffs during peak search hours, and even determine when charging should be turned off.

“Municipalities are literally determined by the roads we take to reach them and while we are in them, and they have many unmet needs that traditional construction processes have not been able to meet,” said the CEO. Tim Sylvester.

“We have taken the advanced construction technology that serves the needs of modern civilization and the networking capabilities that will support the next generation, and brought them together.