PREDICTION: Cybertruck Accessory = Wireless Charging

[cvalue13]

Here making an *educated* prediction that among the accessories offered for the Cybertruck will be a wireless charging system, utilizing the recently Tesla-acquired Wiferion platform. The recent acquisition timing obviously raises that possibility, but in addition to that remote observation I'm increasingly willing to put green money on it because:

In March’s Investor Day event, Tesla flashed a photo of a Model S parked on top of a wireless charging platform. Located in the rear of the vehicle.

In August, Tesla acquired German wireless charging company Wiferion. Here’s what Wiferion’s equipment suite looks like for industrial applications.

The above system’s source resonator/primary coil (what goes on the ground) and device resonator/secondary coil (what goes in the device) measure only ~12” by ~17”, and presumably a vehicle – especially one like the Cybertruck – would require a larger set of resonators/coils.

Startup Witricity has already licensed Wiferion tech to aftermarket upfit Model 3’s for wireless charging – in that use case, under the front 1/3 of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, for months we’ve wondered what could have required the Cybertruck to now have the ‘diaper’ in the lower rear fascia of the truck, especially given the apparent effects on departure angle. We know that the tow hitch receiver is in the box just below the license-plate cutout, but what’s been left unexplained is the remaining drop-down under the rear ¼ of the bed. Some wondered (or hoped) it was a space for a spare, but that seemed unlikely for reasons of the size and shape of the area - as well as accessibility under the rear fascia trim pieces.

While the rear fascia surely plays a role in aero, it's shape strongly suggests it must be covering something of a certain form factor, and something of some importance for Tesla to have in effect compromised on the Cybertruck’s departure angle.


That this lower fascia feature was not for a spare, was further confirmed by more recent video of a crash-tested unit missing this lower fascia altogether.


While it answered the spare tire location question (in the negative), getting a glimpse under this rear fascia raised more questions than it answered. There's nothing of any apparent importance there, other than some support structures - which themselves would not require the form factor of the lower fascia diaper. It is uncharacteristic of Tesla to leave so much space unutilized (especially at the cost of departure angle).

I got to searching for shots of Witricity/Wiferion’s equipment being licensed and installed in other automobiles (e.g., Mitsubishi), all of which to date are in light duty passenger cars (that I’ve found).


The few images I could find of the raw equipment began painting the picture – notice a shared form factor between the Witricity/Wiferion equipment and the Cybertruck's rear lower fascia/diaper? Imagine one of these units larger, for a truck?

All-in-all, I'm satisfied of the strong possibility that Tesla will (either at launch or shortly thereafter) announce the Cybertruck to be the first platform offering an optional wireless charging accessory. That rear fascia diaper will conceal the device resonator/secondary coil of a Cyber-sized wireless charging unit, placed in the rear of the vehicle (as shown in the Investor Day tease of the Model S) to be parked over a home wireless charger pad.

I'll guess these would be residential-only installs, as the ~L2 charge rates would be impractical for public charging if only from a point of relative cost of installation.

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[SolarWizard]

oooh this ones tempting

 

[madquadbiker]

oooh this ones tempting

Here making an *educated* prediction that among the accessories offered for the Cybertruck will be a wireless charging system, utilizing the recently Tesla-acquired Wiferion platform. The recent acquisition timing obviously raises that possibility, but in addition to that remote observation I'm increasingly willing to put green money on it because:

In March’s Investor Day event, Tesla flashed a photo of a Model S parked on top of a wireless charging platform. Located in the rear of the vehicle.

In August, Tesla acquired German wireless charging company Wiferion. Here’s what Wiferion’s equipment suite looks like for industrial applications.

The above system’s source resonator/primary coil (what goes on the ground) and device resonator/secondary coil (what goes in the device) measure only ~12” by ~17”, and presumably a vehicle – especially one like the Cybertruck – would require a larger set of resonators/coils.

Startup Witricity has already licensed Wiferion tech to aftermarket upfit Model 3’s for wireless charging – in that use case, under the front 1/3 of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, for months we’ve wondered what could have required the Cybertruck to now have the ‘diaper’ in the lower rear fascia of the truck, especially given the apparent effects on departure angle. We know that the tow hitch receiver is in the box just below the license-plate cutout, but what’s been left unexplained is the remaining drop-down under the rear ¼ of the bed. Some wondered (or hoped) it was a space for a spare, but that seemed unlikely for reasons of the size and shape of the area - as well as accessibility under the rear fascia trim pieces.

While the rear fascia surely plays a role in aero, it's shape strongly suggests it must be covering something of a certain form factor, and something of some importance for Tesla to have in effect compromised on the Cybertruck’s departure angle.


That this lower fascia feature was not for a spare, was further confirmed by more recent video of a crash-tested unit missing this lower fascia altogether.


While it answered the spare tire location question (in the negative), getting a glimpse under this rear fascia raised more questions than it answered. There's nothing of any apparent importance there, other than some support structures - which themselves would not require the form factor of the lower fascia diaper. It is uncharacteristic of Tesla to leave so much space unutilized (especially at the cost of departure angle).

I got to searching for shots of Witricity/Wiferion’s equipment being licensed and installed in other automobiles (e.g., Mitsubishi), all of which to date are in light duty passenger cars (that I’ve found).


The few images I could find of the raw equipment began painting the picture – notice a shared form factor between the Witricity/Wiferion equipment and the Cybertruck's rear lower fascia/diaper? Imagine one of these units larger, for a truck?

All-in-all, I'm satisfied of the strong possibility that Tesla will (either at launch or shortly thereafter) announce the Cybertruck to be the first platform offering an optional wireless charging accessory. That rear fascia diaper will conceal the device resonator/secondary coil of a Cyber-sized wireless charging unit, placed in the rear of the vehicle (as shown in the Investor Day tease of the Model S) to be parked over a home wireless charger pad.

I'll guess these would be residential-only installs, as the ~L2 charge rates would be impractical for public charging if only from a point of relative cost of installation.

Now that would stop the naughty people from stealing the copper cables.

 

[fishtek]

That would certainly fall in the category of the production version being better than the original reveal!

 

[MiguelAznar]

I’ve heard that wireless charging is better for small loads like phones where the inefficiency is not much of a cost, but Wiferion claims up to 93% efficient:
https://www.wiferion.com/us/

Even then, I could imagine many people choosing to spend the equivalent of $93 to charge their Cybertruck with a cable rather than $100 without.

 

[WormtownKris]

Does that there electro-pad work on a driveway?

 

[Kahpernicus]

I’ve heard that wireless charging is better for small loads like phones where the inefficiency is not much of a cost, but Wiferion claims up to 93% efficient:
https://www.wiferion.com/us/

Even then, I could imagine many people choosing to spend the equivalent of $93 to charge their Cybertruck with a cable rather than $100 without.

Not if it comes from renewable.

 

[MiguelAznar]

Not if it comes from renewable.

Yeah, if your solar is generating more than you can use or sell back to the utility, then take the convenience!

 

[CyberGus]

I’ve heard that wireless charging is better for small loads like phones where the inefficiency is not much of a cost, but Wiferion claims up to 93% efficient:
https://www.wiferion.com/us/

Even then, I could imagine many people choosing to spend the equivalent of $93 to charge their Cybertruck with a cable rather than $100 without.

Wired charging is not 100% efficient.

 

[cvalue13]

I’ve heard that wireless charging is better for small loads like phones where the inefficiency is not much of a cost, but Wiferion claims up to 93% efficient:
https://www.wiferion.com/us/

Even then, I could imagine many people choosing to spend the equivalent of $93 to charge their Cybertruck with a cable rather than $100 without.

interesting!

Do we know the ‘efficiency’ of traditional charges is 100? Surely there’s heat loss in there?

For Tesla to not just license the Wiferion tech (like other manufacturers have) but acquire the company - I assume they’ve done some testing and decided there’s a market.

not to say there aren’t surely negatives. Nothing comes for free and all

it will be interesting to see the uptake on these. I’d not be at all surprised to learn that, for now, Tesla is offering them in part on their being expected low uptake.

 

[BayouCityBob]

Level 2 wireless charging has always seemed to me like a solution in search of a problem.

 

[cvalue13]

Level 2 wireless charging has always seemed to me like a solution in search of a problem.

I wonder if it’s more compelling to some who haven't yet made the change to BEV

Maybe there’s some material population for whom its a turn off, the notion of twice a day messing with big high voltage cables. solve it, and their list of reasons shrinks by one?

I mean, if people don’t want to manually open/close their frunk

 

[JBee]

Here making an *educated* prediction that among the accessories offered for the Cybertruck will be a wireless charging system, utilizing the recently Tesla-acquired Wiferion platform. The recent acquisition timing obviously raises that possibility, but in addition to that remote observation I'm increasingly willing to put green money on it because:

In March’s Investor Day event, Tesla flashed a photo of a Model S parked on top of a wireless charging platform. Located in the rear of the vehicle.

In August, Tesla acquired German wireless charging company Wiferion. Here’s what Wiferion’s equipment suite looks like for industrial applications.

The above system’s source resonator/primary coil (what goes on the ground) and device resonator/secondary coil (what goes in the device) measure only ~12” by ~17”, and presumably a vehicle – especially one like the Cybertruck – would require a larger set of resonators/coils.

Startup Witricity has already licensed Wiferion tech to aftermarket upfit Model 3’s for wireless charging – in that use case, under the front 1/3 of the vehicle.

Meanwhile, for months we’ve wondered what could have required the Cybertruck to now have the ‘diaper’ in the lower rear fascia of the truck, especially given the apparent effects on departure angle. We know that the tow hitch receiver is in the box just below the license-plate cutout, but what’s been left unexplained is the remaining drop-down under the rear ¼ of the bed. Some wondered (or hoped) it was a space for a spare, but that seemed unlikely for reasons of the size and shape of the area - as well as accessibility under the rear fascia trim pieces.

While the rear fascia surely plays a role in aero, it's shape strongly suggests it must be covering something of a certain form factor, and something of some importance for Tesla to have in effect compromised on the Cybertruck’s departure angle.


That this lower fascia feature was not for a spare, was further confirmed by more recent video of a crash-tested unit missing this lower fascia altogether.


While it answered the spare tire location question (in the negative), getting a glimpse under this rear fascia raised more questions than it answered. There's nothing of any apparent importance there, other than some support structures - which themselves would not require the form factor of the lower fascia diaper. It is uncharacteristic of Tesla to leave so much space unutilized (especially at the cost of departure angle).

I got to searching for shots of Witricity/Wiferion’s equipment being licensed and installed in other automobiles (e.g., Mitsubishi), all of which to date are in light duty passenger cars (that I’ve found).


The few images I could find of the raw equipment began painting the picture – notice a shared form factor between the Witricity/Wiferion equipment and the Cybertruck's rear lower fascia/diaper? Imagine one of these units larger, for a truck?

All-in-all, I'm satisfied of the strong possibility that Tesla will (either at launch or shortly thereafter) announce the Cybertruck to be the first platform offering an optional wireless charging accessory. That rear fascia diaper will conceal the device resonator/secondary coil of a Cyber-sized wireless charging unit, placed in the rear of the vehicle (as shown in the Investor Day tease of the Model S) to be parked over a home wireless charger pad.

I'll guess these would be residential-only installs, as the ~L2 charge rates would be impractical for public charging if only from a point of relative cost of installation.

If they have this, the main reason it will work is that the CT can use the air suspension to hunker down over the wireless pad on the ground. Possibly even with the rear section coming down, or the wireless charger moving up to make the gap between them as small as possible, and with it the losses as low as possible.

The critical part with wireless charging efficiency is to get the sending and receiving coils close together.

Now if they have a lowering nappy section on the rear of the CT for this, then they could actively use it as a defuser as well to reduce drag and increase range as well. Monroe was talking about a lowering front air dam, so maybe the one in the back could serve a dual purpose.

Efficiency wise, I think the Wiferion solution uses a higher voltage, at pack level and uses the broadcast coils switching as a step up transformer, which lowers the losses on the front end of the charging rather than having the losses with the step up of the onboard charger. It would still be less efficient than a cable though ad I'd expect around 3-5% extra loss for wireless.

But that also means it's spewing out a heap of EMF, which means I won't be considering that option for a house install with people around.

The other thing is it's likely to weigh something, meaning you'll have less range, but it also means extra cost, so it better be an option only.

As for offgrid charging using wireless, most systems are undersized on houses because of poor roof orientation, so using a cable to reduce losing what little you are already getting, would make more sense.

But on the subject of convenience: there's no reason why you can't do the exact same with a lifting plug receptacle on the underneath using a plug instead of wireless without the losses, and all the benefits.

I can't think of a use case where wireless would be better suited than a remote controlled plug.

 

[charliemagpie]

If I am only using a full charge every couple of weeks or so, doesn't matter. Far easier to just park at home and never ever ever..ever, have to worry about plugging in.

To add after reading Jbees post... If EMF is an issue, I'll just schedule to charge in the middle of the night.

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