Inductive charging: Siemens takes a stake in WiTricity

Siemens is acquiring a minority stake in the US company WiTricity, a wireless charging technology company, for USD 25 million. Together they want to drive innovations in the market for wireless charging of electric vehicles. According to calculations by Siemens, this market should reach two billion US dollars by 2028 in Europe and North America alone. The two companies aim to fill the gaps in the global standardization of wireless charging for electric passenger and light commercial vehicles to enable interoperability between vehicles and infrastructure and support market penetration. In addition, both parties will work together to advance the technical development of wireless charging systems.

“Combining Siemens’ global footprint and EV charging portfolio with WiTricity’s innovative technology is the first step in expanding our offering into the wireless charging space. This accelerates the introduction of wireless charging technologies, supports standardization and promotes a public charging infrastructure with interoperable solutions for more user convenience for e-car drivers,” said Markus Mildner, CEO of Siemens eMobility.

Siemens will also become WiTricity’s technology license partner, benefiting from the US supplier’s in-depth knowledge and decades of working with global automakers to develop proven, field-tested and interoperable wireless charging solutions.

The overarching goal of the cooperation is to accelerate the development of wireless charging technologies together with OEMs and infrastructure partners while at the same time ensuring their cost-effective and global availability. According to a recent survey of more than 1,000 EV owners and prospects planning to buy an EV in the next two years, wireless charging is one of the most attractive add-on options, preferred over other features such as Park Assist, performance or premium audio packages . www.siemens.com