
BMW has revealed that the BMW 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid will be available with wireless charging from 2018.
BMW Wireless Charging technology allows energy transfer to take place without the use of cables. The wireless charging system consists of a base pad with integrated primary coil – which can be installed in a garage, for example, but also in the open – and a secondary coil integrated in the underside of the vehicle.
An alternating magnetic field is generated between the two coils, through which electricity is transmitted without cables or contacts at a charge rate of up to 3.2 kW. This form of power supply to the high-voltage battery is extremely convenient for customers and involves a charging time of around three-and-a-half hours.
After the BMW 530e, additional models with the optional BMW Wireless Charging package will be available within a short time.
The price of the pad is not yet fixed, but it should only be slightly above the current BMW i Wallbox Pro, which costs around $900/€765.