EVs embrace wireless charging
A decade since Tesla debuted it's autonomous 'snake' charging technology, that never went into production, Chinese carmaker Li Auto has launched its own version of self-chargeding to the acclaim of many car lovers and tech enthusiasts on social media.
The video of the family SUV charging itself via a robotic arm on a charging station stunned viewers and offered a glimpse of what motorists can expect in the very near future.
Hey, @Tesla_AI How soon do we see this happening for @Tesla Model Y @robotaxi fleet 🇰🇸
pic.twitter.com/GwzIfKyWus
— JeebsTX 🇰🇸 (@JeebsTX) August 1, 2025
Like something out of Terminator 2 or Blade Runner, the robotic arm reaches for the charging cable and using a laser scanning system inserts the charging cable into the car's electric charging outlet. It then unlocks and releases the cable when the charging is finished and is able to do so for all cars in the several bays of the charging station.
However it appears the future might be even brighter than this.
Self proclaimed 'optimistic futurist; CEO Elon Musk has indicated his EV darling Tesla will go even further, very soon.
Musk has indicated induction charging – which like wireless charging for mobile phones is the process of transferring electrical energy between two objects using electromagnetic induction – could be available as soon as next year.
Tesla's Cybercab service has been launched to much fanfare in Austin Texas and San Francisco. And if Musk is right, induction charging would allow the cars to be even more autonomous. It might not be that long before the cars don't need any human intervention at all.
The other possibility is that Tesla's Optimus robot could perform the tasks around charging EVs and even maintenance that humans currently do.
Musk said on a recent earnings call for the car maker that he believes Tesla will be making 100,000 units of Optimus in five years time and predicts it will be the most sought-after product in the history of human kind.
Musk has also indicated his Cybertaxis will use the wireless charging system and has rolled out a proof of concept as to how it will work, with the car moving over the top of the charge as it parks for charging to occur.
It would appear to follow suit that inductive charging in EVs would take a substantially longer time than traditional charging via cables but Musk said that won't be the case.
'There is no meaningful efficiency difference between inductive and conductive charging if the system is designed right,' Musk wrote on X.
There are also indications that the Cybertruck might be able to use induction charging when it is widely available and the applicable systems updates are made.
Volvo is another leading carmaker moving down the road to induction charging.
The Swedish car giant has begun real-world testing of the charging in partnership of Momentum Dynamics with its XC40 Recharge, reaching speeds of up to 40kW.
Which would mean it could conceivable charge from 20 to 80 per cent in less than an hour.
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