Tesla's wireless charging: Revolution in autonomous driving?
The patent, which has now been revealed, entitled "Parameter Estimation for Wireless Charging", indicates that the car manufacturer wants to equip its future "robotaxis" with wireless charging stations:
This makes perfect sense, as the autonomous vehicles are supposed to operate completely independently, even when charging. Instead of human intervention or complicated solutions such as Tesla's former "Snake Charger" – a robotic arm that was supposed to automatically connect to the vehicle – the focus now seems to be on a charging station that connects to the vehicle via induction.
This technology allows a self-driving car to simply drive over a charging plate to charge the battery. A physical connection is not necessary.
What does this mean for the robotaxi?
The presentation of the autonomous robotaxis, which may even be able to charge itself, is a big step for Tesla and the mobility industry. In recent years, the US carmaker has repeatedly hinted at how autonomous driving will change the future of transport.
An important part of this vision is that vehicles can be operated without human assistance – and that probably starts with charging.
With the acquisition of Germany's Wiferion in July 2023, which specializes in wireless charging systems, Tesla seems determined to perfect this technology. It is possible that Tesla will introduce this charging technology not only for its robotaxis, but also for other vehicles in its portfolio. Whether this will actually happen, however, will only become clear after the event in October.
Will wireless charging shape the future of electric mobility? Let us know what you think in the comments.
Source featured image: David F via X
