Wireless Charging System!

General Motors will begin testing a wireless charging system for electric vehicles built by Watertown-based >WiTricity, the startup announced Tuesday.  The MIT-born company's prototype technology allows an electric car owner to place a charging pad on the floor of the garage and recharge a vehicle just by parking over it. The system could also be installed underneath the pavement of parking lots.

 Witricity announced it is working with General Motors (GM) to test an advanced wireless charging system prototype for electric vehicles. The companies are working together to test WiTricity’s Drive 11 park-and-charge system, designed for maximum efficiency and interoperability across vehicle platforms. The prototype testing focuses on wireless charging systems at 7.7 and 11 kW charge rates, capable of charging both battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and extended range electric vehicles (EREVs), and is intended to comply with standards proposed by SAE International’s J2954 Committee.

GM is committed to offering customers a variety of electrification solutions, including a great charging experience. To improve understanding of real world performance and the challenges integrating this technology into vehicles, GM is testing WiTricity’s prototype wireless charging system, which allows a driver to simply pull into his or her garage and automatically receive power from a source below the vehicle. The system design works across all plug-in electric vehicle platforms and can be deployed as a “floor pad” in a consumer’s garage, as well as installed under pavement to provide wireless charging in public and commercial parking lots.

“Wireless charging is a technology that our customers have told us they are interested in,” said Pamela Fletcher, GM Executive Chief Engineer – Electrified Vehicles. “By testing the WiTricity prototype system, we can ensure that wireless charging systems will comply with proposed industry standards, which benefits the entire industry and consumers.”