With each passing day, cars are getting smarter, greener and more techy. And Jaguar Land Rover are dialing it in with a high-powered wireless taxi initiative called, wait for it, ‘ElectriCity’ (step back, we have a winner!).
JLR has teamed up with Nordic taxi operator Cabonline, charge point operator Fortum Recharge, US tech developer Momentum Dynamics and the City of Oslo, delivering 25 Jaguar I-PACE SUVs in a world-first, high-powered wireless infrastructure for taxis in the Norwegian capital.
This is the first time we’ll be seeing a charging system of this nature for electric taxis that’ll push the EV agenda further and further, and rub it into our Petrolhead faces. Pretty sure Greta Thunberg is behind this.
How’s it work?
Look at your phone for a sec (one that supports Qi wireless charging, if you’re using a Nokia 3310, we can’t help you).
What you have is a system that uses resonant inductive coupling between your charging station (the sender) and your phone (receiver). The charging station sends regular test signals to check for a resonance change, which, once it has found your phone, will tell the Qi base that there’s a compatible device present.
Once it’s calculated Qi compatibility and energy requirements, it’ll begin charging through induction. Throughout the process, sender and receiver will stay in contact and switch to ‘standby’ upon full charge.
The wireless Taxis will work pretty much the same way. Multiple charging stations (plates) will be installed in the ground at pick-up and drop-off points. So while your driver’s waiting for you to get out of the shower, he’ll be charging (and will probably charge you too).
No cables, no problem
This system doesn’t use cables, and doesn’t need any physical connection between car and charger, will automatically engage and provide an average of 6 to 8 minutes of energy per charge up to 50kW.
By the end of the day, when the driver’s falling back to rank, his or her car should have a decent amount of charge without interrupting the driver.
This is yet another step towards a more efficient, healthier, safer and greener society. Well done Jaguar Land Rover.
Worried about them Electromagnetic rays? Don’t be. The EMG coils that send and receive the charge are especially shielded to reduce rays. See you in ‘ElectriCity’ where we can split a cab.
