A Nissan LEAF electric vehicle equipped with a Plugless Power wireless charging vehicle adapter.
Three high-profile organizations have stepped up their work with Evatran, which has developed a wireless method of charging electric vehicles.
The Hertz Corp., Duke Energy and the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research have retrofitted Nissan LEAF vehicles with Evatran’s Plugless Power system in three locations. All three have already been testing the cars for a month and will continue to run tests for the next three months, Evatran said.
The State of Virginia and Google are also working closely with the company.
Plugless Power uses electromagnetic induction to charge electric vehicles without requiring them to be plugged in. An adapter is installed on the undercarriage of the vehicle; the system charges when the driver pulls the car on top of a charger place on the floor of the garage or parking space.
“Our goal in launching this one-of-a-kind initiative was twofold,” said Evatran CEO Tom Hough. “We wanted to get this game-changing technology into the hands of real electric vehicle drivers, and we wanted to show the market that convenient, wireless charging technologies can encourage electric vehicle adoption on a large scale.”
Aside from its pilot partners, Evatran has signed Sears to help install the technology as it becomes commercially available.
Another three testing locations will be installed during July; Evatran is also seeking participants for the second phase of the project to begin early in 2013.
(Image courtesy of PRNewsFoto/Evatran)
