Wireless technology to fuel your car while in your garage

Magic fuel fairies

Imagine pulling your car into the garage after driving for 250 miles. You get out. Lock your doors. Then head inside and turn in for the night. The next morning you get back in your car and you have a full tank of fuel. This isn't a story about magic fuel fairies who fill your tank while you sleep. It's no fantasy at all, actually.

Wireless car charging is here

Evatran's Plugless Power is the world's first wireless electric vehicle charging station. You can charge your car without plugging it in. Every time you leave home, you've got a full tank. For now, Plugless Power is available only in the Nissan Leaf, the Chevy Volt, and the Cadillac ELR. None of these are long range EVs, but there is no reason that in the future this magical technology will be available for any EV. Google, Hertz, and Duke Energy are already using this product, so you know this is the real deal.

Daimler and Qualcomm have partnered to get into the wireless charging game. They are working to create the Wireless Power Transfer 2.0 for electric cars. Using Qualcomm's Halo WEVC technology, Daimler aims to use this in Mercedes electric cars and plug-in hybrids. Mercedes owners would never need to plug in their car. But, unlike gas powered cars, the the "tank" would always be full. The technology will even allow you to wirelessly charge your phone or other electronic devices inside the car. You could just set your iPhone next to the cup holder and the iPhone will be charged without plugging in. No need for messy cords.

How it works

Plugless Power has two displays that help you guide the car into the parking space. It can be in your driveway or in the garage (or at the supermarket!). Like the guys at the car wash who guide you onto that conveyor track, the sensors tell you to turn slightly left or right until the car is positioned over the charger that is embedded in the ground or floor.

The charger on the ground uses an induction power transfer to induce an electrical charge into the car's batteries. This is the same technology that is being used on a smaller scale for some new home electronics. Check out this wireless charging pad for the Samsung Galaxy phones: http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones-accessories/EP-PG920IBUGUS

The induction charger is fully weather proof. It even works in the snow!

I imagine that once an EV driver experiences a wireless charger that it would be hard to go back to a plug or a gas powered car.

Check out Evatran's website where you can learn more or buy the wireless charger: https://www.pluglesspower.com/

Image via Daimler and Evatran