WiTricity brings wireless EV charging to the golf course

The wireless charging experts at WiTricity claim their newest wireless charging pad solution will eliminate the sort of, “Did I remember to charge?” worries that plague retirement communities and golf enthusiasts everywhere.

Before we get too far into this, allow me to concede that the WiTricity solution is really more of a “plugless” solution than a wireless one – especially in light of the fact that I can see a wire leading from the charging “pad” to a standard 110/120V outlet in the official promo picture. That said, life on a big dealer lot has taught me that it is all too easy to pull a golf cart into its designated parking spot at the end of a long day and completely forget to plug it in at night. Wireless or not, the WiTricity MR/1 inductive charging pad solves that problem.

And, because the WiTricity pad’s connection to the outlet can be more or less permanent and can be covered with cable ramps, reduces the sort of trip and fall risks normally associated with long cords. That’s important at the sort of golf courses and retirement communities that use these vehicles as daily drivers.

“The MR/1 600W gives customers a clear choice,” says Joe Benz, CEO of WiTricity AI Tech. “For high-duty commercial fleets, the 900W system remains the fastest option. For (golf) courses and communities that want the benefits of wireless charging at a lower entry cost, the 600W system delivers an excellent balance of performance, simplicity, and value.”

The WiTricity charging pads can be set up to charge during the hours when electricity rates are lowest, and are designed to automatically stop charging when the cart’s battery is full. The receiver (the part that goes on the cart) installs in about 30 minutes, and works with a variety of cart brands and battery types.

Electrek’s Take

If it were up to me, I’d drive my Gator literally everywhere within five miles. Grocery store, gym – I’d even take the kids to school in it, if it were road legal. Unfortunately for me, the thing isn’t road legal in Illinois. As such, I have to limit its use to the in-laws’ farm, which I only get out to a few days out of each year.

And trust uncle Jojo when he tells you: if you think it’s annoying to have to charge up your ride the morning of because you forgot to plug it in last night, wait until you experience the suck of driving nearly four hours and having to wait near four hours more because you forgot to plug in your favorite toy four months prior.

I will definitely be looking into one.

SOURCE | IMAGES: WiTricity.

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