Toyota Tests Wireless Charging

The system uses magnetic resonators buried in the road surface of a parking space and does away with the need to plug the car into electricity mains using a cable.

Magnetic field

The wireless charging device is contained in a mat measuring about 50 centimetres across. When the car is parked the mat is raised automatically and the AC power is delivered via the magnetic field created under the vehicle.

The first phase of testing starts in Toyota City, Japan, in January 2013. Engineers hope to reproduce genuine everyday conditions.

Toyota says a typical Prius-sized model can be recharged in 90 minutes using the wireless induction system - the same amount of time needed for conventional cable charging.

One slight drawback is that drivers who do not position the car directly above the magnetic mat will find that charging takes slightly longer. Toyota has not announced when the wireless charging technology will go into series production.