London: Home of 1st Electric Vehicle Wireless Charging Trial
Pushing the introduction of electric cars was always going to require easier methods of charging, and a new trial initiated by Qualcomm Incorporated will make London the home of the first Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) trial.
The pre-commercial trial is expected to start early 2012 and will see Qualcomm collaborating with the UK Government, the Mayor of London’s office, and Transport for London to bring as many as 50 electric vehicles to the trial.
The trial will use Qualcomm wireless inductive power transfer technology that, according to Qualcomm, “enables high-efficiency power transfer across a large air gap.”
“It is very easy to use: the driver simply parks the vehicle in the usual way and the system automatically aligns for power transfer, making parking easier and charging hassle free.”
“This wireless charging technology is a giant leap forward for the electric car industry and I am delighted that London businesses will be among the first to benefit from the trial,” said British Prime Minister David Cameron. “Creative, high-tech advances such as this are extremely important as we work to rebalance our economy, and the decision to trial this at Tech City shows confidence in the UK as an ideal place for innovation and investment.”
“This trial is a great example of how vehicle recharging could work in the future. This private sector investment shows how innovative solutions will help ensure electric cars are a real option for motorists,” said Justine Greening, secretary of state for transport. “This project supplements the £30 million Government fund to kick-start installation of recharging points in eight areas across the country.”
The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, said, “In my quest to deliver cleaner air for the capital, I want London to be the electric car epicenter of Europe. Encouraging a massive uptake in electric driving is key to this vision of becoming a zero-emission city. We are already on this path with Transport for London delivering a citywide charging network, but we need to go further. This trial is an innovative new facet of my plans, with the promise to help drivers go electric with even greater confidence.”
The trial is going to see itself take place primarily in Tech City, in East London, in an attempt to make the most of the entrepreneurial mindset of the region, and will be overseen by representatives from Transport for London, the Mayor’s office, and central Government. The trial is open to any and all companies that wish to participate; companies should register their interest at www.wevc.com.
Source: Qualcomm
Image Source: Frank Hebbert
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