Toyota testing wireless charging for electric cars

Toyota has started field trials with a wireless charging system that allows electric cars to replenish their batteries without needing a point of contact.

The system uses magnetic resonators buried in the road surface of a parking space.

This does away with the need to plug the car into electricity mains using a cable.

The wireless charging device is contained in a mat measuring about 50cm across. When the car is parked the mat is raised automatically and the AC power is delivered via the magnetic field created under the vehicle.

The first phase of testing starts in Toyota City in January.

Engineers hope to reproduce genuine everyday conditions.

Toyota says a typical Prius-sized model can be recharged in 90 minutes using the wireless induction system - the same amount of time needed for conventional cable charging.

Toyota has not announced when the wireless charging technology will go into production.