BMW wireless charging integrated
plug-in hybrid in its new 5 series model
BMW wireless charging integrates plug-in in it’s hybrid 5-Series, the 530e iPerformance. BMW Wireless Charging is the technology that will initially be available for the BMW 530e iPerformance and shortly thereafter for other electric cars. It will mean you no longer have to bother with plugging the car in for charging. To be operational, the pad will need to be connected to a power source. Subsequently the car will need to be placed in a specific position from which the current will flow into the vehicle. The upcoming sedan will include a 9.2kWh (kilowatt-hour) battery, which can be charged with a wireless charging pad made by BMW itself.
The BMW induction charging pad is actually quite aesthetically appealing. You have to simply position the car over an inductive charging plate plugged into a wall outlet. The pad is integrated into the base of the plate which has a primary coil. A secondary coil is located underneath the nose of the car. An alternating magnetic field is generated between the two coils, through which electricity is transmitted without cables or contacts at a charge rate of up to 3.2 kilowatts. This is enough to charge the battery within 3.5 hours. BMW quotes a 28-mile electric range for the European cycle.
The floor plate can be used both in a garage and outdoors. Of course, conventional charging can also be used. When maneuvering onto the loading platform, the iDrive system helps its driver with help lines and an exact display of the required position of the vehicle. The floor slab is naturally designed so that it can also be crossed without taking any damage.
According to the BMW, the price is not yet fixed, but it should only be slightly above the current BMW i Wallbox Pro, which is presently priced at around $900. Further details on prices and availability are not available at the moment. BMW has not made it clear whether the wireless charging pad will be an optional accessory that will need to be bought separately. There is a possibility it might come bundled with the car. Wireless charging standards are yet another space of innovation that is expected to pick up pace, soon. Mercedes-Benz has spoken about introducing its own wireless charging standards that will premiere on its upcoming 2018 S-class flagship sedan.
Furthermore, wireless charging pads for cars can hopefully be implemented in more public areas to make charging on the go easier. As of now, the technology awaits widespread adoption as the number of electric cars look set to increase exponentially over the next three years.
