Wireless power is beginning to see wider acceptance and will become an increasingly ubiquitous form of charging for a number of applications. The integration of wireless power technology into mobile and consumer electronics devices is already taking shape through standardization on a worldwide scale.
The technology is enabling plug-free and, in many cases, contactless charging for a wide range of devices and machinery – from military and medical devices to electric vehicles (EVs) to unmanned aircraft.
The market for wireless power systems – encompassing mobile devices, consumer electronics, industrial applications, infrastructure devices, and electric vehicles – will triple over the next 8 years, growing from $4.9 billion in revenue in 2012 to $15.1 billion in 2020, according to a new report from Pike Research.
While North America is the largest market for wireless power today by a wide margin, it will be surpassed by mid-decade by the Asia Pacific region. Wireless power revenue in Asia Pacific will reach $6 billion in 2020, the cleantech market intelligence firm forecasts, representing 40% of the worldwide market. By application, the largest sector for wireless power in 2020 will still be mobile devices, with 36% of total revenue.
As the technology matures and the industry consolidates, wireless power is beginning to see greater acceptance across a range of applications, and will become an increasingly common form of charging in the coming years.
“While the market is still nascent, the rapid spread of wireless charging systems for mobile devices is a clear indicator that the broader wireless power sector has the potential to be a game-changer,” says vice president Bob Gohn. “Evidence is building that wireless power technology can be an environmentally friendly technology and that, before the end of the decade, it could contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions and embedded energy used to produce, ship, and dispose of conventional charging equipment.”
