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Electric cars – Toyota to develop wireless technology for electric vehicles

To proceed with the development of wireless charging systems, the Japanese automaker has concluded a technological collaboration agreement with U.S. venture WiTricity Corp., with Toyota making some investments in the company. Toyota aims to have the system ready for practical use within the next 10 years, a Toyota official said.

As WiTricity has the right to exclusively use a patent for the technology that can transmit electricity efficiently when a target is several meters away, Toyota has judged that the technology could be adopted to charge electric car lithium ion batteries without the use of plugs.

”The charging of a plug-in hybrid or electric car could be as simple and convenient as parking near an embedded charger at a home or in a parking facility,” Toyota said in a statement.

With electric vehicles becoming more widespread, the automaker has been actively working to develop next-generation products by teaming up with U.S. EV venture Tesla Motors Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) as well as Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT).

TMC and WiTricity Form Wireless Battery-charging Alliance

Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) has entered into a technological collaboration agreement with Massachusetts, United States based WiTricity Corporation concerning the practical application of automotive wireless charging systems and the promotion of their widespread use. TMC plans to participate in a WiTricity capital increase.

WiTricity’s charging technology uses resonance, which allows charging without direct contact and is more efficient than electromagnetic-induction, another wireless technology—but one that requires contact—that is starting to come of age in mobile phone and other chargers. TMC believes that resonance wireless charging is suitable for automobiles and aims for its early practical use.

The collaboration is aimed to accelerate development and eventual implementation of wireless charging for automobiles. The charging of a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle could be as simple and convenient as parking near an embedded charger at a home or in a parking facility.

In the Toyota Global Vision announced in March, TMC expressed its commitment to leading the way to the future of mobility by integrating automobiles, homes and information technology. Wireless charging is just one of the many technologies TMC seeks to develop for the future.

www.witricity.com

www.toyota-global.com/