London to trial wireless charging

Qualcomm has announced the first wireless electric vehicle charging (WEVC) trial for London in collaboration with the UK Government, as well as the Mayor of London's office and Transport for London (TfL). The pre-commercial trial is expected to start in early 2012 and will involve as many as 50 electric vehicles (EVs) using Qualcomm wireless inductive power transfer technology that enables high-efficiency power transfer across a large air gap. The driver simply parks the vehicle in the usual way and the sys
April 30, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
5358 Qualcomm has announced the first wireless electric vehicle charging (WEVC) trial for London in collaboration with the UK Government, as well as the Mayor of London's office and 2387 Transport for London (TfL).

The pre-commercial trial is expected to start in early 2012 and will involve as many as 50 electric vehicles (EVs) using Qualcomm wireless inductive power transfer technology that enables high-efficiency power transfer across a large air gap. 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.

The trial, which will be based partially in Tech City, the East London cluster receiving the strong support of the Prime Minister, is planned to leverage the entrepreneurial community there and encourage companies to innovate around services and applications, in order to enhance the smart EV experience.

Prime Minister David Cameron said, "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. 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."

5356 Addison Lee, the UK's largest minicab company, and 5357 Chargemaster, a leading European operator of advanced EV charging infrastructure, have also agreed to participate in the WEVC London trial.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • New Silvertown Tunnel under River Thames in London
    May 11, 2018
    Transport for London (TfL) has been granted a Development Consent Order (DCO) by the Department for Transport (DfT) for the Silvertown Tunnel. This new twin-bore road tunnel will run under the River Thames in East London. The DCO is the formal process giving the green light to any development categorised as a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP). The tunnel is set to open in 2023 and is intended to help reduce the chronic congestion at the existing Blackwall Tunnel. The project will also he
    Read More
  • Tackling the UK's traffic congestion
    February 28, 2012
    The biggest problem on UK roads is congestion, and there is no shortage of ideas as to how it should be tackled. Patrick Smith reports. Congestion (and how to relieve it), along with safety, are among the top priorities facing those responsible for looking after the UK's roads. Road pricing, car-share lanes, greener vehicle initiatives and alternative methods of transport such as buses, trams and rail are all part of the approach, but prior to the current economic climate the nation's love affair with the c
    Read More
  • American parking sector to aid growth of electric vehicle charging in workplace
    February 1, 2013
    The American parking industry has teamed up with U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) to back a government initiative to expand electric vehicle charging stations in the workplace. The International Parking Institute (IPI) has been named a founding ambassador in the US DoE’s Workplace Charging Challenge, a new initiative of the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, announced by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu at the recent Washington Auto Show’s Public Policy Day. The Workplace Charging Challenge will support the expans
    Read More
  • Partnership aims to make plugging in EVs obsolete
    April 30, 2012
    WiTricity Corporation, IHI Corporation, and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation have agreed to join forces to research and develop easily deployable wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging systems.
    Read More

Highlighted Content