Imagine you’re on your way home after a busy and hectic day at the office. You’re making your way down the street leading up to your home in your Chevy Volt, which is in EV mode thanks to the charging station at work. It’s late, you’re tired, and dinner is in the back seat, the kids are waiting for your imminent arrival, and they’re hungry. As you pull into your garage, what’s the last thing on your mind?
Those who answered something to the effect of “plugging in the Volt” have probably been in this scenario before. Luckily, a company by the name of Evatran has something that promises to due away with the hassle of wired charging thanks to its Plugless Level 2 EV Charging System.
According to Evatran, the system is the “World’s First Wireless Charging System For Electric Vehicles” and doesn’t require the user to give anything up: it charges the electric car just as fast as when it’s plugged in and continues to utilizes all of the high-tech convenience features of an EV, such as setting the car’s charge schedule. Most impressive is that there are no user interaction points with the Plugless system: all the user needs to do is drive into the garage and park the car.
From what we could tell from Evatran’s website, the biggest reason behind the existence of the Plugless L2 charging system is powerful, yet simple: the necessity to plug in electric cars might actually inhibit their adoption. So the start-up has made the L2 system available for various electric vehicle models, including the Chevy Volt.
But what’s perhaps most important is that earlier this week, Bosch (yes, the Bosch) has announced the signing of an exclusive distribution and installation deal with Evatran to offer the Plugless Level 2 Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging System — thereby taking it out of “vaporware” status.
How It Works
Once the Plugless L2 system has been installed, all the driver needs to do is pull into a parking space and let the system do its inductive charging thing… wirelessly: there are no cords to untangle and no plugging in whatsoever — making it a truly hands-free technology. As the driver pulls into the parking space, the wall-mounted Control Panel provides a guide over the Parking Pad. Once aligned, the EV begins charging automatically — making for a very convenient and reliable way to charge the EV.
System Components
The Plugless L2 System is made up of three components: the Vehicle Adapter, the Control Panel, and the Parking Pad.
- Specifically designed for each EV model, the Vehicle Adapter houses the receiving coil for the wireless charging process and is permanently installed underneath the vehicle.
- The Control Panel houses the electrical components of the station and is hard-wired to a dedicated 240V 30A circuit. This component supplies power to the Parking Pad and also provides parking guidance and charging status information to the driver. It is installed on the wall directly in front of where the EV user parks.
- The Parking Pad houses the transmitting portion of the system and is installed on the floor of the garage or parking space.
Specifications
| Plug-In: | No |
| Hardwired: | Yes |
| Cord Length: | N/A |
| Parking Pad Dimensions: | Parking Pad: 22_L x 18_ W x 2.5_ D |
| Control Panel Dimensions: | Control Panel 19.25_L x 9.75_W x 5_D |
| Amperage: | Dedicated 30A breaker |
| Voltage: | 208 VAC- 240 VAC |
| Input/Output Power: | 3.6kW / 3.3 kW |
| Input Current: | N/A |
| Breaker Size: | 30 Amps |
| Connector/Cable: | N/A |
| Mounting: | Wall mount or pedestal |
| Weight: | 35 lbs for all components |
| Temperature Rating: | -18°C to 50°C (-0°F to 122°F) |
| Enclosure: | NEMA Type 3R/4; indoor/outdoor rated |
| Warranty: | 1 year |
Installation
According to Bosch, a “Trained Vehicle Charging Advisors” will: “walk customers through a free on-site estimate, installation and inspection, and provide ongoing support including finding money-saving rebates offered by utility companies, government or vehicle manufacturers. Bosch installation services include a 3-year limited product warranty, all permitting and even filing rebate paperwork for a vehicle owner.:
Pricing
The Plugless L2 System (EL-51339) for the Chevy Volt retails for $2,998.00, not including taxes, shipping, or installation fees.
Financing options include:
- $0 down, same as cash loan with no monthly payments for 12 months if repaid in full in 12 months for charging stations with installations $1,000 and above.
- $0 down, 5-year 2.99% loan on charging stations with installations $3,500 and above.
Evatran/Bosch are now taking orders for the Plugless L2 charger, but the questions is, are you willing to throw down three large plus installation for a system to charge your EV? Do the financing options make it any more attractive? Sound off in the comments.
Hat tip to Thomas J. Thias on Twitter, whose Chevy Volt has roughly 17,000 miles on the odometer while having used a total of 18 gallons of gas.
Comments
No its not worth it. Plugging in is like remembering to do any other chore around the house and not for 3k certainly.
I would definitely pay 3 big ones!!!!
Sounds like a great idea to me. I want one!
2998D, our sulution and product is only about $2000
Learn more: http://en.zonecharge.com/index.php?g=&m=article&a=index&id=102&cid=3
The price is high now, but if adoption increases, and as technology moves forward, devices like this will come down in price. Inductive charging is the new “cool” thing (some vehicles come with wireless charging for mobile devices inside), and it only makes sense to have it available to charge a larger electric device – an EV.
The fact that Bosch has signed on is very promising.
2998D, our sulution and product is only about $2000
Learn more: http://en.zonecharge.com/index.php?g=&m=article&a=index&id=102&cid=3
It’s a fine idea but totally unnecessary for most people. I’ve only forgotten to plug my car in two times in the last year and that was only because I had not set up my OnStar app to notify me when the car was due to charge.
I’ve got my charger mounted on the wall directly across from the charge port. In my case I don’t even have to step over the charging cord because the entrance to my house is on the driver’s side of my car. I couldn’t be happier with the reliability and ease of use of the system.
“Input/Output Power: 3.6kW / 3.3 kW”
So 300 watts is wasted as heat?
The biggest benefit to me would be not having a cord on the floor of the garage, but it looks like that is still there.
This is only the start.
In time this system will improve and the price will drop and this will be the norm for cars like this.
Nice alternative to J1772, however, why not 6.6kW output for other vehicles? I would prefer a unit which would sit at the same level as the garage floor, not above the floor level where it can be easily damaged.
What is the maximum distance allowed between the vehicle adapter and the parking pad?
I agree that convenience is the primary benefit, but the cost is nearly 3 times what my wired EVSE cost and the Evatran charges at half the rate.
It will be interesting to see the progress of wireless charging units, especially when they are embedded under traffic lanes for charging on the go.
This stuff is like big screen TV’s and will be expensive to those who first buy them but in time the prices will drop significantly,
I am sure this thing could be driven over with out damage as they would have to account for it. Other factors like people not wanting to tear up the floors in their garage or the added cost of installation are factors too.
I expect many new homes in the future to be wires with 220 in garages that normally do not have it today for the possible charging stations they may see. I even put in a 220 outlet near where I primarily park as you never know if one of these cars may show up 15 years from now in my garage. If not I have a second outlet for a welder or plasma cutter anyways.
The infrastructure is going to be the challenge. It will take decades to even consider on road charging as who will pay for it when they can even afford to fix my pot holes.
This is a nice system, simple and in time will be less expensive. But by then I am sure there will be something more expensive and faster to take its place. LOL!
I”m assuming the company Powermat is dead? I don’ see any of their products anywhere anymore.
So maybe that’s why GM and Powermat never rolled out with anything in GM’s 2013 models for wirelessly powering devices as stated. :o(
No, I would not pay the $3,500 because there are usually added hidden cost that are never mentioned up front. Plus
for the unit to stay active, will that increase your electric bill, and by how much? Also, what are the guarantees for such
a unit, and what maintenance is required for such a wireless device? (cost $$$$$) And who or whom will install this unit
on your vehicle? And will this device void your GM Warranty?
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