Jaguar supports Nordic's 'ElectriCity' program via I-PACE

Jaguar Land Rover has thrown its support to the City of Oslo in building a wireless, high-powered charging infrastructure for taxis in the Norwegian capital.

This would make the city of Oslo the world’s first metropolitan area to install wireless, induction-based high-powered charging stations for electric taxis.

Known as ‘ElectriCity’, Norway wants to make its cab system emission-free as early as 2024. Eventually, it wants all new cars sold in the country to have zero emissions by 2025.

“We’re delighted to welcome private enterprises to help us to turn our vision into reality," said City of Oslo's Vice Mayor for Environment and Transport, Arild Hermstad.

“As part of our commitment to reducing emissions by 95 per cent before 2030, we have put many exciting measures in place, but transport continues to be a key challenge."

"By improving infrastructure and providing better charging to the taxi industry, we are confident that by 2024 all taxis in Oslo will be zero emission. To reach our goal, the public sector, politicians and private enterprises must come together, as we do in this project.”

Jaguar Land Rover will join the biggest taxi network in the Nordic region, Nordic Taxi operator Cabonline (NorgesTaxi AS). Cabonline will be tasked to operate the fleet as part of Oslo’s ElectriCity programme.

The team will also be joined by the region’s largest charge point operator Forum Recharge, who will be supporting the installation and electrification of the project.

Meanwhile, US technology developer Momentum Dynamics is in charge of constructing the wireless, high-powered charging infrastructure for taxis in the Norwegian capital.

Land Rover will provide 25 Jaguar I-PACE models to Cabonline. The I-PACE has been specifically designed to enable Momentum Dynamic's wireless charging technology, making it the ideal vehicle to drive the program.

To make its use more efficient, taxi drivers need a charging system that allows them to stay on route during working hours. Multiple charging plates rated at 50-75 kilowatts each are installed in the ground in different pick-up-drop-off points.

This allows the taxi to charge itself even while queuing for the next fare. The system engages automatically, and gives an average of 6-8 minutes of energy per each charge up to 50kW.

All cables will be situated below ground, so the vehicle doesn't require any physical connection between the charger and vehicle.

"We’re extremely proud of our track record in electrification and we’re committed to making electric vehicles easier to own and use. The taxi industry is the ideal test bed for wireless charging, and indeed for high-mileage electric mobility across the board," said Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive Sir Ralf Speth.

"We’re delighted to be part of ElectriCity and to continue to lead the field in electric vehicle technology. This is a great step forward to reaching our Destination Zero mission."

The Oslo ElectriCity partnership is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s goal to make societies healthier and safer, while reducing emissions in the air. Delivered through relentless innovation to adapt its products and services to the rapidly changing world, the company aims to achieves Destination Zero, where vehicles have zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion in the near future.

Photos from Jaguar Land Rover

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