The new electric Porsche Cayenne will support inductive charging not just for smartphones, but also for the car’s high-voltage battery pack.
Measuring 1170mm long, 780mm wide and 60mm tall, the inductive charging plate can recharge the upcoming Cayenne EV, as well as any future electric Porsche that supports the technology, at up to 11kW. Porsche claims the wireless transfer technology it uses is 90 per cent efficient.
Like inductive smartphone chargers, Porsche’s system uses a magnetic field to wirelessly transmit energy. It’s unclear if Porsche’s charging plate uses an open standard, and supports charging vehicles from another brand.
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Weighing around 50kg, the charging pad can be setup in a garage or carport. The pad’s live electrical components are sealed to withstand rain and snow, so the pad can also be installed in a driveway or parking lot that’s exposed to the elements.
The wireless charging system contains two main components. The most obvious piece is the charging plate, which lies on the floor and is connected to mains power. Then there’s the in-vehicle receiving unit, which is located between the front wheels, and lives behind a plastic guard protecting it from road debris.
To use the wireless charger, the driver needs to position the Cayenne EV’s wireless receiver over the pad’s transmitter. A special overhead view, utilising the car’s 360-degree camera system, is shown in the infotainment display with active guide lines to help the driver get into the right spot.
Once in the correct position, the car lowers itself so the air gap between the two elements is just a few centimetres, and charging begins.
Motion and foreign object detectors are built into the charging pad. If something is detected, they turn off wireless transmission straight away in order to protect living things, as well as prevent coins and such like from messing with the magnetic field.
Porsche claims running over the charging plate “does not cause any significant damage”. In addition to wireless charging, the Cayenne EV will support DC fast-charging up to 400kW.
According to Autogefühl, the car’s inductive charging equipment will cost around €2000 (A$3500), while the charging pad will set buyers back about €5000 (A$8900). Professional installation isn’t required, but Porsche will offer that service if requested.
The Cayenne EV is due to be launched at the end of 2025, and the wireless charger will be available in Europe from 2026, with other markets to follow later.
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