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BMW Beats Everyone to Wireless Charging
For years people have talked about wireless charging for cars. Some automakers, like Nissan, have showed concepts, but BMW just became the first one to bring the tech to the market. Customers in the U.S., China, Germany, Japan, and the U.K. can order the system right now, with production set to begin in July.
The first BMW that will work with this wireless charger is the 2018 BMW 530e iPerformance, a plug-in hybrid model. More are supposed to come in the near future.
Essentially, this wireless charger features a pad you park the car over. It plugs into a power outlet and is waterproof, so you could keep it outside. The inductive charging involves a coil in the pad transferring electricity to a coil in the car through a magnetic field. This tech is used in all kinds of household devices, only with a car it involves much more power.
BMW’s charger has a capacity of 3.2 kilowatts. It takes 3.5 hours to charge the 9.2-kilowatt-hour battery in the 530e iPerformance. That’s not bad, especially considering you don’t have to remember to plug the car in when you park. Plus, there’s no risk of pulling out of your garage without unplugging the car first, which can result in some damage.
Even better, the pad helps you park in the right position. It communicates with the car through WiFi, so you see directions on the infotainment screen. And, you don’t have to line the pad and car up perfectly.