The ability to charge an electric vehicle without the need for plugging in is a technology that not only consumers desire, but is something that China has been pushing for over the past several years. Now, it has finally declared a new national standard for wireless electric vehicle charging, which will enable any EV to use and play a key role in the large scale deployment of the innovation.
The new standard is based on WiTricity’s technology, with its magnetic resonance delivering the same efficiency and speed from vehicle-to-grid as plug-in options, is safe, hands-free and as simple as parking your car. Wireless EV charging is not just convenient, it is critical for the automatic charging of future fleets of autonomous vehicles, such as robotaxis or delivery vans.
For the past four years, WiTricity has been actively involved in the Chinese EV wireless charging standardization process through its work with China Electric Power Research Institute (CEPRI), China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) and the CEC.
Its patented technology is foundational to the Chinese national standard (GuoBiao or GB standard) for wireless electric vehicle charging ratified and published by the China Electricity Council (CEC) on April 28, 2020 and announced on May 6, 2020.
The ratified standard is now a major market enabler for deployment on vehicles and in public charging infrastructure. WiTricity has worked closely with the GB standard committee on several significant technical matters, including efforts to harmonize the China standard with other international standards (SAE J2954, ISO 19363, IEC 61980) that will be published in 2020 and 2021.
The China automotive market is by far the most aggressive in transitioning to electric, and Chinese automakers are seeking ways to make the EV ownership experience even more appealing to new buyers. Wireless charging makes charging as simple as parking your car and walking away, ensuring that full battery capacity and range is seamlessly available to the driver. Wireless EV charging with WiTricity’s magnetic resonance technology delivers the same power, efficiency and charge rate as conventional plug-in charging methods with no compromises. Wireless EV charging is not just convenient, it is critical for the automatic charging of future fleets of autonomous vehicles, such as robotaxis or delivery vans.
WiTricity plays an active role in working with Tier 1s in China to design and realize systems that will meet China’s GB standard. Zhejiang VIE Science & Technology Co., Ltd. subsidiary (VIE) and Anjie Wireless Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd. (Anjie) have licensed WiTricity’s technology and industry-leading designs which include all needed peripheral systems such as foreign object detection, position detection and communications. These companies develop and commercialize highly efficient EV wireless charging systems for sale to leading automaker brands in the China market. VIE has completed construction of its pilot production facility to assemble wireless charging systems for its initial OEM customers.
Anjie recently demonstrated a fully autonomous parking and wireless charging experience on an Xpeng Motors’ EV, showing the world what the future of autonomous, electric mobility will look like in the years to come.
“It’s a significant milestone for WiTricity to have our patented wireless charging technology embraced in the Chinese GB national standard. China is the world’s largest EV market, the global EV trendsetter, and a key market for WiTricity. Following our close work with CEC, CATARC and CEPRI, we’re thrilled that the GB standard is published, creating a clear path for automakers and their Tier 1 suppliers in China to implement wireless charging,” said Alex Gruzen, WiTricity CEO. “We are proud of the work we’ve done in China to make EV ownership more appealing to everyone with our hands-free wireless charging.”
