Wireless Charging Tested On Kia Soul EV

Jul 23, 2015

Soul EV wireless charging concept

Since its entry into the market, the Kia Soul EV has proven to be one of the most advanced vehicles in green technology, and everyday Kia works to make the next generation even more advanced than the last. Through their partnership with Mojo Mobility, Inc., a company focused on wireless power, Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc., (HATCI) was presented with a grant for researching and creating a system capable of wirelessly charging an electric vehicle. Provided by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy and Renewable Energy (EERE), Vehicle Technologies (VT) program, the grant aims to translate the past success at Mojo Mobility and HATCI to this project. Mojo Mobility is already a company with a strong background in wireless charging technology, allowing various devices to charge, even with imperfect alignment.

“HATCI is honored to be selected as a partner with the DOE,” said Dr. Sung Hwan Cho, president, HATCI. “Innovative technologies such as this align well with one of our core goals, which is to create a vehicle experience that is intuitive and easy for the consumer.”

With an added wireless charging system, the Kia Soul EV would become even more convenient for the owner, allowing for easier charging after already eliminating gas station trips. On top of that, it would allow for a smaller battery pack to possibly be used, reducing the weight of the vehicle.

Already through two phases of testing, the project has already developed a working energy transmitter on the ground with a receiver on the vehicle operating at 92 percent efficiency. Once the third phase kicks off, it will test actual system performance in the real world, with positive projected results.