Premium automaker Genesis has stopped the development of its proprietary wireless EV charging system. Per Bloter, the company concluded that this power delivery method was both inefficient and in conflict with the carmaker’s priorities.
Specifically, the engineers discovered that any electric car charged wirelessly ends up with less usable driving range than a car charged by cable. This shortage can exceed 30 km (18.6 miles) in some cases.
Another major disadvantage of the technology is slower charging. While Genesis EVs normally come rated for high-power charging sources – up to an impressive 350 kilowatts, to be exact – the wireless pad for home use can output a meager 11 kW at best. Traditional wired chargers can top up the battery from 10 to 80% in under 20 minutes, so there is little sense in having a wireless pad running overnight, dispersing power into the air while struggling to fulfill its primary purpose.
According to Bloter, Genesis has been experimenting with the technology since the beginning of the decade, testing it on its GV60 SUV fleet and outfitting select dealerships in Seoul with stationary wireless charging platforms. With the results being what they are, however, we can expect those platforms to be dismantled soon.