One of the primary barriers to electric cars being adopted by the mainstream is their limited range. The need to find charging stations after short distances keeps many drivers from taking the plunge.

 

However, wireless charging could change all of that. London has been conducting wireless charging trials, while the city of Gumi in South Korea has now fitted 15 miles of public road with cables capable of transferring electric charges to its fleet of electric busses.

 

Wireless or inductive charging is not a new concept, and has been studied at length as a way to charge various devices without a physical connection to a source of power. There are numerous brands currently experimenting with inductive charging, including Nissan, Infiniti. American wireless technology firm Qualcomm is currently at the head of the pack with this technology. They are currently developing a system called Halo, which could potentially be used both on highways and in parking lots. As the car is driven or stationed in these public venues, it could then be recharged using the wireless connection. Qualcomm is planning trials in London, along with partners Renault cars and Drayson Racing. A fleet of electric Renault Fluence Z.Es will be used to determine whether the wireless system could be feasible in the city, with six locations already named for these wireless charging points. They will be stationed at busy areas such as Luton and Battersea to power the electric Renault taxi fleets.