[Mark]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW i Inductive charging. Power without cables!

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Powered by high-voltage EV batteries, the first premium all-electric vehicle – the BMW i3 – and the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car can be driven with zero tailpipe emissions. As a fast and simple solution for battery charging via a hardwired connection, BMW i offers the Wallbox. At CES, BMW will present an alternative solution: in a BMW i8 it will demonstrate a research application for inductive – i.e. wireless – battery charging.

Contact-free power transfer between coils.
Inductive charging provides reliable, wear-free and user-friendly EV battery charging using a magnetic field, without the need for a hard-wired connection between the vehicle and the power source. The system comprises a primary and a secondary coil. The primary coil is fitted in a base pad underneath the vehicle, for example on or embedded in the garage floor. The secondary coil is integrated in the underside of the BMW i8. As soon as the vehicle is positioned over the base pad and the charging process begins, an alternating magnetic field is generated which transmits electricity between the coils. The electricity is transmitted without cables or contacts across a gap of several centimetres, at a charge rate of 3.3 kW. The high-voltage battery of the BMW i8 can be fully recharged in less than two hours using this system – which is approximately the same amount of time required with a wired connection. Future inductive charging systems with a higher charge rate of 7 kW will also allow the larger batteries of all-electric vehicles, such as the BMW i3, to be fully recharged overnight. In typical accessible areas immediately next to the vehicle, the electromagnetic field strength during inductive charging is well below the existing regulatory limits. The electromagnetic radiation is less than that emitted by an induction hotplate on a kitchen stove.

Trouble-free inductive charging even in snow or in the wet.
The key requirement for an optimal charging process is the correct relative positioning of the two coils. A parking assistant ensures that the BMW i8 is parked so that its secondary coil, which is located centrally between the front wheels on the underside of the vehicle, is positioned precisely over the primary coil in the base pad. The system launches the charging process automatically, but only if the coils are correctly aligned and there is no obstruction to the power transfer – for example due to foreign objects situated between the vehicle and base pad. Since all the system’s electric components are protected, inductive charging is possible even in rain or snow.

Automatic control for additional convenience.
Inductive charging offers important convenience benefits for drivers of electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles: they no longer have to connect a cable to a charging station, for example. At the same time, charging begins automatically and is continuously monitored. This ensures the BMW always offers an optimal range for zero-tailpipe-emission electric driving.

Just as when charging the vehicle with the BMW i Wallbox, inductive charging can also be activated and monitored using a smartphone app. Amongst other things the app shows the current charging status, remaining time to complete a full charge and potential driving range.

[04cobra]

I like this better than Dr. Octopus from Tesla

[discoboy1]

I hope it s going to be that fast cause charging my toothbrush that way takes a whole day..!

[BLU135i]

This is pretty cool. All these CES reveals have been worrying me but this I like.

[Twix]

I'd love to say this is new and exciting but, as an electrician, I can say this is old news.

[BLU135i]

Originally Posted by Twix

I'd love to say this is new and exciting but, as an electrician, I can say this is old news.

Sure the concept is not new. Inductive charging is used on lots of things, but tell me where it has been used in this application. Hell there is research on imbedding these types of coils in roads to power EV's while they are driving removing the battery from the equation all together. It's just refreshing to see something coming to fruition.

[moparacker]

BMW's just reusing tech that they've already introduced.

http://www.bmw-i.tk/BMW-i/blog/Entri...ce_EX_102.html

[BLU135i]

Originally Posted by moparacker

BMW's just reusing tech that they've already introduced.

http://www.bmw-i.tk/BMW-i/blog/Entri...ce_EX_102.html

Lol. An EV Rolls.....what's the curb weight on that thing. That is a complete waste.

[PackPride85]

Originally Posted by Twix

I'd love to say this is new and exciting but, as an electrician, I can say this is old news.

Yeah I used to install inductive power systems into large assembly line dolly systems. Pretty cool to see a giant dolly moving around automatically with no cables attached.

I didn't read the entire article but I can't imagine the charge rate or efficiency would be very high?

[Twix]

Efficiency is surprisingly high, and so too the rate. It's just a transformer really.

[mattmv06]

How cool would it be if in the future they incorporated these into the streets so your car would always charge while on the road

[Greatdane84]

Originally Posted by mattmv06

How cool would it be if in the future they incorporated these into the streets so your car would always charge while on the road

Then they control your car......

[Scrippy]

Originally Posted by discoboy1

I hope it s going to be that fast cause charging my toothbrush that way takes a whole day..!

Lol

[Meeni]

I wonder if it can remotely erase old hard drives as well!

[PABrian]

I feel like this would be a very good thing to have, but you'd have to be pretty committed to EVs and their future to get one installed in your house. If you're not doing it yourself, running the wires underground wouldn't be cheap. As it is people complain about electrician installation fees for their lvl2 (240v) chargers for their i3s.

Originally Posted by BLU135i

Sure the concept is not new. Inductive charging is used on lots of things, but tell me where it has been used in this application. Hell there is research on imbedding these types of coils in roads to power EV's while they are driving removing the battery from the equation all together. It's just refreshing to see something coming to fruition.

Imbedding them into roads would be great, but you'd have to have a corresponding strengthening of the power grid to support it (should EVs with this tech become widespread enough to warrant paving roads with inductive charging built-in), and I don't know if anyone would want to go battery-less for fear of complete immobilization should a power failure occur.

[phoenixbmwlife]

Gotta hand it to BMW to create wireless charging of their Electric cars before Tesla did. The irony is huge in this

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by mattmv06

How cool would it be if in the future they incorporated these into the streets so your car would always charge while on the road

This was the vision of Nicola Tesla when he was alive. I'm still hoping someone revisits this technology, creates it and mass produces it.

[MalibuBimmer]

Originally Posted by Bennu

Gotta hand it to BMW to create wireless charging of their Electric cars before Tesla did. The irony is huge in this

BMW (and other big manufacturers) can dump a lot of money into long range research. Tesla is mostly about the now. Doing a great job with the S, but the R&D will never catch up.

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by MalibuBimmer

BMW (and other big manufacturers) can dump a lot of money into long range research. Tesla is mostly about the now. Doing a great job with the S, but the R&D will never catch up.

Oh yeh they are doing a great job with what they have. You never know some big auto maker might buy them or merge some day giving them the funding they need for R&D. I should really buy their stock now even though its gone up so much since its inception. LOL

How you liking your i8?