Wireless Charging System Developed for Kia Soul Electric Vehicle

The system works by using an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two coils--a transmitter on the ground and a receiver on the bottom of the vehicle. The driver parks the car above the transmitter to begin charging and then energy is sent through an inductive coupling to an electrical device which uses that energy to charge the electric vehicles' battery. The system is supposedly so efficient that it will allow some misalignment between the transmitter and the receiver, making it easier and more convenient for owner's day-to-day use.

"We're thrilled with the success of the system and its efficiency," said HATCI President William Freels. "We set out to develop wireless charging that has real world applications and is easy to use for the consumer. Now, with this fleet of wireless Soul EVs, we can clearly see a future of unplugged electric vehicles."

Although there are no plants to to offer the wireless charging system on production vehicles for sale to consumers, the success of the project suggests similar systems are possible on future Kia electric vehicles.