Toyota backs wireless electric vehicle charging
The carmaker has just announced an intellectual property license agreement with Massachusetts-based WiTricity, which will mean next generation Toyota plug-in vehicles will be compatible with the company’s inductive chargers.
Toyota has been working with WiTricity since it made an investment in the company in 2011. WiTricity’s inductive charging technology will be licensed to third-party manufacturers, who will build the floor-mounted pads used to transmit the electricity to a receiver on the car.
WiTricity CEO Eric Giler said: ‘We envision a world in which wireless charging accelerates the adoption of clean, green electrified vehicles. To have Toyota, the world’s leading carmaker, licensing our intellectual property, underscores the importance of the technology.’
Toyota has already hinted that its next-generation Prius Plug-in Hybrid will feature wireless charging capability. Set to be based on the carmaker’s New Global Architecture, this will target a 10% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, aided by what the carmaker claims will be the most energy-efficient petrol engine and highest energy density batteries on the market.
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