GRA
Well-known member
Via ABG: https://www.autoblog.com/2017/09/26/bmw-530e-wireless-charging-pad/
. . . The BMW Wireless Charging device will be available in early 2018 — though not, apparently, in the U.S.
Wireless charging is hardly a new concept, though BMW appears to be one of the first automakers to offer a factory charging pad as an option with a new model. The system involves a base pad containing a primary coil that plugs into a 220-volt outlet and a secondary coil in the vehicle's undercarriage. An alternating magnetic field travels between the two coils, charging the car at a rate of 3.2 kilowatts, nearly as fast as being plugged in. Sensors in the car also help direct you to the proper position above the pad.
BMW plans to launch the system early next year in other countries. The Verge eports that the technology is still being tested and evaluated in the U.S. and Canada, where it has not yet received UL approval, and will launch later on. There's also no word on pricing.