Still too expensive and not efficient enough, wireless charging solutions for electric cars are not meeting the expected success. However, Tesla seems to be very interested in it and could take over the young German Wiferion, which designs and markets induction charging systems for industrial robots.
The leader of the electric car would be in the process of buying the start-up based in Fribourg. The information comes from an entry in the commercial register, informing that “the shareholders intend to sell their shares in the company to Tesla International BV by means of a purchase agreement”.
Why would Tesla want wireless charging?
Already the owner of a powerful charging network, Elon Musk’s firm could adopt wireless charging. If it is not complicated to connect a cable to a car, the Californian firm wants to go even further. Wireless charging would be a high-end solution before becoming an integral part of the autonomous driving desired by the brand, thus allowing the vehicle to move and recharge itself.
If Tesla is eyeing Wiferion, the latter could serve a dual purpose. Obviously, Tesla could take advantage of the expertise of the start-up to develop its charging technologies, but also to apply the wireless charging that Wiferion already uses to power industrial robots. This would be very useful to Tesla’s factories and Gigafactory.