Wiferion
Inductive charging - the innovative answer for electromobility
Imagine driving your electric car into a car park and while you are shopping or working, your car charges automatically without you having to worry about finding a charging point or plugging in the charging cable.
The magic word is "induction charging". But what if we could use this technology not only for mobile phones and toothbrushes, but also for electric cars, public transport, in logistics, in urban infrastructure or in space? This is precisely the question that the innovative company Wiferion is working to answer at its headquarters in Freiburg.
How it all began: From the Fraunhofer Institute to Wiferion
Florian Reiners, electrical engineer and one of the four founders of Wiferion, is convinced that contactless induction charging has the potential to revolutionise the energy transition. Together with his team, he is developing standards in this area that are difficult even for competitors to catch up with. Florian Reiners and his co-founders are no strangers to the world of charging technology. They gained their knowledge and experience at the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE) in Freiburg, from where they founded Wiferion. With 1,400 employees, the ISE is the largest institution for solar research in Europe and part of the Freiburg science network. It was here that the founders of Wiferion were able to develop wireless charging for an e-caddy with 22 kilowatts of power. However, despite the potential and technical feasibility, no car manufacturer has yet ventured into contactless electric vehicle charging.
Opening up an unknown sector
In the meantime, the resourceful founders of Wiferion have found a clever approach to developing their technology further: they have focussed on a rather unknown sector, that of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), or driverless transport vehicles. These autonomous vehicles are widely used in large distribution centres and in automotive production and are increasingly replacing the traditional assembly line.
The inductive charging that Wiferion offers can help eliminate costly charging stops and significantly increase vehicle availability. Their inductive chargers can charge an entire fleet with just one charging station, regardless of the voltage, amperage or battery type. In addition, data on capacity, energy status and much more can be collected through wireless energy transfer.
In the short history of Wiferion, the company has made impressive progress. In just a few years, they have become the world's leading provider of wireless energy supply for industrial electric vehicles. Their rate of growth is enormous.
In a world that is increasingly focussing on electromobility, we could soon find ourselves in a reality where charging electric vehicles is as simple and seamless as charging a smartphone. A simple parking manoeuvre could be enough to fully charge our car - without the hassle of cables or time-consuming plugging in. If Wiferion has its way, this future could become a reality sooner than we think.
Florian Reiners
Electrical engineer and one of the four founders of Wiferion
Key facts Wiferion GmbH:
- Foundation: 2016
- Vision for the future: Revolutionising electromobility through contactless charging. And expansion plans with the application of its technology in the areas of public transport, urban infrastructure and space travel.
- Location: Munzinger Straße 1, 79111 Freiburg
- www.wiferion.com
