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Tesla’s latest patent promises auto-docking for effortless future wireless EV charging

Garage owners can equip their homes with wireless charging pads in the future. (image source: Tesla)
Garage owners can equip their homes with wireless charging pads in the future. (image source: Tesla)
Tesla may introduce a new automatic docking feature for its upcoming Home Wireless Charging Pad. The system will allow cars to locate the pad and maneuver into the perfect spot for efficient charging.

Charging an electric vehicle wirelessly is tricky because even slight misalignment can lead to heat buildup and energy waste. Tesla's latest development aims to address this problem with an automatic docking feature for its future Home Wireless Charging Pad. This new system will let the vehicle automatically locate the pad and maneuver into the perfect spot - which means users can charge their Teslas with minimal energy loss in the future.

The automatic docking feature would eliminate the need for owners to manually adjust their cars or the charging pad, making the process much more hassle-free. 

The technology Tesla employs bears plenty of similarities to resonant inductive charging, where power is transferred over short distances through magnetic resonance. This tech is already used in consumer electronics, like smartphones, and now, Tesla seems to be scaling it up for electric vehicles. By adjusting the “resonance” between the pad and the car’s coil, Tesla can charge its vehicles more efficiently.

Reports state that the charging pad will be able to adapt to various coil locations inside the car, reducing heat and energy loss regardless of how the vehicle parks. In fact, Tesla's patent covers dynamically varying the coil induction to optimize charging, making the process more seamless. When implemented, this approach could set Tesla apart from other wireless charging systems.

As of now, we don't know whether the automatic docking feature will be tied to vehicles with Enhanced Autopilot or Full Self-Driving. Alternatively, it could be a software-related perk, which auto-activates when a Home Wireless Charging Pad is detected nearby - when it is available, that is. The new feature could lead to future developments in Tesla's EV lineup, possibly with the upcoming Robotaxi being the first to incorporate wireless charging from the ground up. Tesla hasn't provided any clarification yet - we'll have to wait for an official announcement. 

(Image source: Not a Tesla App)
(Image source: Not a Tesla App)
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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > News > News Archive > Newsarchive 2024 09 > Tesla’s latest patent promises auto-docking for effortless future wireless EV charging
Anubhav Sharma, 2024-09-14 (Update: 2024-09-15)