EAI presents Cleantech Snapshots: a quick summary of some of the most interesting and innovative areas in clean technology that will drive the sustainability movement in future.
This snapshot focuses on Wireless Charging. Within this page you will find
- An overview of Wireless charging
- It’s working
- Advantages
- Devices that use wireless charging
- Drawbacks
Overview
- Wireless charging uses an electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects, and does not need a wire
- It is currently used only in niche areas such as embedded medical devices and for mobile charging, but could soon find its place in the electric vehicle domain if efficiency, cost issues, and charging speed are resolved
- Wireless charging could remove one of the key bottlenecks for charging electric vehicles
- It is becoming increasingly commonplace in many smart phones
Block diagram of Wireless charging system (Image source)How it works
- Wireless charging uses an induction coil to create an alternating electromagnetic field within a charging base station, and a second induction coil in the portable device takes power from the electromagnetic field
- The two induction coils in proximity combine to form an electrical transformer
Advantages
- Protected connections – no corrosion when the gadgets are enclosed, away from water or oxygen in atmosphere
- Safer for medical implants
- Convenience
- Durability
Devices that use Wireless charging
- Phones
- Toothbrushes
- Laptops
- Electric cars and trains (Future perspective)
Drawbacks
- Lower efficiency
- Expensive
- Slow charging
- No common standard hardware
