Currently reading: BMW 530e iPerformance to get world’s first wireless charging system
Technology is related to the one used in Formula E; it's the first to be used on a production car

BMW will be the first mass-market car manufacturer to introduce wireless charging of a drive battery with the 530e iPerformance.

The system, due to be offered with the hybrid 5 Series from the middle of 2018, is based on the one used by the i8 safety car in the Formula E race series.

It is claimed to be capable of charging the 530e's lithium ion battery in 3.5 hours – just 1.5 hours more than the fastest current wallbox plug offered with the car.

Like the i8 safety car (pictured below), which Autocar has driven on track, the 530e’s wireless system uses resonant magnetic inductive coupling technology, to create an electromagnetic field. The 9.2kWh battery can be charged at a rate of up to 3.2kW via this field.

The charging begins automatically as soon as the car is parked above the floor charge pad and its ignition is switched off. Drivers can drive their vehicle over the pad using guiding lines displayed on the centre console infotainment screen. BMW says the charge pad can be placed inside a garage or outdoors.

Bmw i8 safety car 064

Although only confirmed for the 530e iPerformance, the wireless charging system will be almost certainly be rolled out to other electrified models in BMW’s range, with the i8, due for a facelift in the coming months, the most likely next candidate.

That car is expected to eschew the 7.1kWh battery of the current i8 for a larger, 10kWh battery, as used by the uprated Formula E safety car.

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Halcyon 27 September 2017

Convinient, yes

But what about efficiency? The drawback of wireless charging is that it loses about 10 % of the transferred energy. So, this will make your environmental friendly car less environmental friendly. On the other hand, if this can encourage those lazy company car buyers - who buy a plug-in car just for tax reasons and never bother to plug them in - to charge their cars, the net effect might be positive.

 

Deputy 26 September 2017

High power induction

I still think that high power induction systems are one of those technologies that we'll look back on in 50 years and think "What? They had those on their driveways?!". That's of course if we have any children left! I'll stick to a cable for now please.
275not599 27 September 2017

Just make a suit out of

Just make a suit out of aluminium foil. Don't forget the hat.