EV experts to assess feasibility of wireless inductive charging

The memorandum of understanding between battery pack manufacturer Evida and inductive charging specialist HaloIPT will model the manufacture of 40,000 induction charging systems over a five-year period at an estimated cost of €80m (£70.6m).

Evida this month began full-scale production of the battery pack for the mia electric — a pared-down all-electric vehicle for the ‘mass market’. Some 70,000 units of the EV are projected to be shifted by 2015.

By contrast, HaloIPT has been focusing on niche applications for its technology, including fleet vehicles, taxis and luxury products such as the recent Rolls-Royce 102EX Phantom, which will sell with an option for wireless charging.

‘It’s still early days — it’s an exploration,’ said Jonathan Shine, Evida’s co-founder. ‘But I will say that as a company that wants to be instrumental in proliferating EVs, wireless charging is very attractive for us — having that facility on a vehicle makes it significantly more useful for owners.’