Drawing power out of thin air

Chinese companies are developing next-generation wireless technologies to charge mobile devices and electric vehicles

People who loathe carrying around messy smartphone charging cables can breathe easy. Soon, while driving, they will be able to use Chinese wireless charging technology.

Companies are working on commercializing their technology by applying it in automobiles. The rationale is that people tend to spend a great deal of time in their cars and are always looking to charge mobile devices.

A video display introduces wireless mobile chargers at a digital technology expo in Shanghai. Ajing / For China Daily

"An in-cabin wireless charger for mobile devices is very likely to be a standard feature in cars in the future," says Wang Zhe, 27, chief executive of Beijing InvisPower Technology Co Ltd, a developer of wireless charging solutions.

Wang first developed an interest in wireless charging while doing research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an engineering student from Tsinghua University. He later dropped out of the doctoral program at Columbia University to pursue his passion for providing wireless charging chips, solutions and "in-cabin" charging modules for automakers.

While the technology has the potential for diverse applications, experts say if in-cabin wireless charging proves to be successful, it will likely give the industry a lift and set a trend for wider commercial applications.

"This is a huge convenience feature for users. Customer feedback is strongly positive as the car is the third most common charging location after home and office," says David Green, a research manager for wireless power at IHS Inc, a US-based market consulting and information company.

"Clearly, this market is linked to the receiver market in mobile phones, meaning the technology chosen, and the adoption of in-cabin chargers, will increase along with the rise in adoption of wireless charging in mobile phone handsets."

IHS predicts one in 10 handsets sold this year will integrate the wireless charging feature. The receiver shipments of wireless charging products exceeded 140 million last year, which is increasing the number of automotive original equipment manufacturers that offer in-cabin charging solutions.

"We're already close to shipments of in-cabin chargers exceeding 1 million a year, and that will increase dramatically from 2017 onward," Green says.

The convenience for vehicle drivers and market potential for in-cabin wireless chargers have allowed companies such as InvisPower to achieve initial commercial success in the automotive industry.

The company has successfully secured orders for in-cabin charging modules from Chinese automakers Brilliance Auto Group and JAC Motors Co Ltd. Foreign auto brands such as Jaguar-Land Rover and Audi have also expressed interest in InvisPower's products.

"At present, foreign automakers tend to employ the products of our foreign rivals. But we're challenging them with our reliability, quality and cost advantage," Wang says.

Major car brands such as Cadillac, Jeep, Lexus, BMW and Audi have already employed in-cabin wireless charging features for smartphones in some models. There are more than 30 vehicle models worldwide that have the technology, usually as an optional accessory, particularly in high-end vehicles, according to IHS.

"The automotive industry as a whole is incredibly competitive, with a huge number of tier-one suppliers able to design and produce in-cabin charging modules," Green says.

The wireless charging technology works on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Coils of wire create a magnetic field to transfer energy between two objects.

Despite the concept's appeal, the existing wireless charging technology has not become mainstream due to several technological obstacles such as distance restraint, relatively lower charging efficiency, interoperability of different technology standards and concerns about radiation.

Some industry experts say the existing wireless charging technology offers only a minor convenience for consumers, as it allows users to avoid messy cables but still fails to really free up devices.

Major market players are making significant investments in research and development that are focused on improving the power transmission range, to enable long-distance wireless charging and to expand its application base, industry insiders say.

"If the technology manages to achieve a breakthrough first in the automotive industry, it will likely see faster growth and wider commercial application later," says Zhang Lu, a technology analyst at Huatai Securities Co Ltd.

Installation of wireless charging facilities at airports and railway stations has helped raise consumer awareness about the technology. So have built-in charging spots or mats for customers at shop floors at Starbucks, McDonald's and Ikea.

As the technology evolves, a more promising aspect of it could be that it may eventually be able to power up more demanding machines such as hybrid and electric vehicles.

Duan Yingsheng, an analyst at Founder Securities Co, says wireless charging for e-cars will be the next big commercial application of the technology.

German automaker Mercedes said in May that its next-generation Mercedes S-Class plug-in hybrid electric vehicle will employ wireless charging technology. The company has been partners with BMW on the project, and the vehicle may be launched in summer 2017.

Other automakers such as Nissan, Toyota and Hyundai-Kia are also involved in developing wireless e-vehicle charging technologies. Companies such as Qualcomm Inc and WiTricity Corp are the major players on the supplier side.

Technologies also will seek to enable "dynamic charging" - charging lanes that could power up e-vehicles in motion, industry experts say.

lixiang@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 07/22/2016 page27)