PREDICTION: Cybertruck Accessory = Wireless Charging

[Jhodgesatmb]

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.

Nice detective work. I wonder how many would willingly give up departure angle for wireless charging though. And doesn’t the other end have to be permanently installed in the ground? How many would [be able to] do that? And wireless charging is much less efficient than wired charging, but the CT will have a larger battery, so would this solution be practical? Just playing devils advocate…

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[CyberGus]

Wireless charging is the only way that non-homeowners will have a L2 infrastructure.

 

[kev12345]

Wireless charging is the only way that non-homeowners will have a L2 infrastructure.

Where?

 

[SKUUT]

I sincerely hope that they use that under-bed space for a spare, even a donut for emergencies, those undercarriage photos always looked like there might be just enough room. I would take a full size for off-roading. Also wonder if you'll be able to individually suck up a corner after blocking or hi-lifting one of the corners at a pinch weld jack point in order to pull a wheel when in the field. Does anybody know what Rivian's solution is to this? I guess they have an air suspension system for leveling their trucks. Will be interesting to see what solutions they came up with...

 

[PilotPete]

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

There are two issues that wireless addresses. The first is Robotaxis. To be able to just park in a designated spot is far easier than any automated plug arrangement.

The second is infrastructure and infinite range. If you build the coils into the road, then you can charge as you drive. Can’t do that with a plug. I believe Toyota did a demo on this on a closed track earlier this year. You don’t have to electrify every mile, just at a regular interval.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

There are two issues that wireless addresses. The first is Robotaxis. To be able to just park in a designated spot is far easier than any automated plug arrangement.

The second is infrastructure and infinite range. If you build the coils into the road, then you can charge as you drive. Can’t do that with a plug. I believe Toyota did a demo on this on a closed track earlier this year. You don’t have to electrify every mile, just at a regular interval.

That is not what @cvalue13 was talking about. Tesla purchased a company that makes a wireless charger that would replace a wall connector. You park the car over it and it [somehow] gets charged. My guess is that it part of it gets installed in the garage or driveway and is permanent. These would definitely work for robotaxis (I find it hard to believe that Tesla would implement this for Cybertrucks as robotaxis) but are not the same as the experiment of roadway charging.

 

[cvalue13]

ed. My guess is that it part of it gets installed in the garage or driveway and is permanent.

it’s not permanent. Equip-wise it’s like any other charger, except instead of a connector at end of wire, it’s a pad that lay on the ground (wire, too).

I sincerely hope that they use that under-bed space for a spare, even a donut for emergencies, those undercarriage photos always looked like there might be just enough room.

bare in mind the size of a “donut” is relative to the size of the standard tire: a “donut” for a 35” standard would still be a large tire

set aside that Tesla doesn’t really do spares, and set aside that there is “stuff” in the way prohibiting a spare in this under-bed location, and set aside that a spare under trim fascia such as this is generally unworkable, and you’re still left with their just not being room there

the two green lines above are the same length. While a really rough compare, it emphasizes that there simply is no room for any spare, donut or otherwise

 

[cvalue13]

is it that hard to plug the thing in? we don't need more cost.

also sacrificing departure angle for wireless charging seems like a bad tradeoff to me.

On one hand, there’s no way this is a standard feature - will be an option, and likely not a cheap one.

On the other hand, the fascia appears standard.

 

[etrigan63]

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.

[LECTURE]
Heat loss is caused by resistance. Ergo, the lower the resistance, the less heat is generated, the more efficient the transfer. Since room-temperature superconductors aren't a thing (yet), there will always be some loss due to resistance. This can be mitigated by four things:

1. Chemical composition of conductor. Silver would be the only thing better than copper at pumping electricity into an EV. However, silver is 80.5x more expensive than copper.
2. Shorten then length of the cable. The longer the run, the more resistance encountered.
3. Fatten up the cable. Increasing the cross-section of the cable lowers resistance.
4. Cool the cable. The lower the temp, the lower the resistance.

[/LECTURE]

 

[dempster]

Where?

I feel like I'm missing something here, how would this help non home owners?

You still have to feed the wireless charger on the parking spot with the same (or more depending on efficiency) as a wired charger? It's merely an easier/lazier way to hook up to the electrical system. Or am I completely missing something here?

 

[davelloydbrown]

I can see using this in an arid environment like california or arizona, but here were we get lots of rain in the spring and fall (and summer) not to mention all the snow and ice in the winter, this thing makes me nervous.

Another concern is driving over that connecting cord has got to eventually cause some damage. I will just stick to plugging it in which is just as easy and saves a big expense.

 

[dempster]

interesting!

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

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/a36062942/evs-explained-charging-losses/

This says 95% on L2 charger, and 60-85% with L1 charger (dependant on weather)

Throw away 2% for a cool wireless charger pad? sure!

 

[Petertsai]

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.

The size of the cables to the exciter coil is small, limiting the amount of power that can be delivered. Also what will be issues if inductive objects and not the CT is on coil?

 

[JBee]

The size of the cables to the exciter coil is small, limiting the amount of power that can be delivered. Also what will be issues if inductive objects and not the CT is on coil?

If it's only a L2 charger they don't have to be very large cables because there is not that much power going to them, and at 240V not that much current either.

The exciter coil would negotiate a charge rate with the receiver on the vehicle before gradually ramping up the power for transfer. Whatever you put on there would have to be able to activate it first. Putting something inbetween while it's running would also deactivate it.

 

[Jhodgesatmb]

it’s not permanent. Equip-wise it’s like any other charger, except instead of a connector at end of wire, it’s a pad that lay on the ground (wire, too).




bare in mind the size of a “donut” is relative to the size of the standard tire: a “donut” for a 35” standard would still be a large tire

set aside that Tesla doesn’t really do spares, and set aside that there is “stuff” in the way prohibiting a spare in this under-bed location, and set aside that a spare under trim fascia such as this is generally unworkable, and you’re still left with their just not being room there

the two green lines above are the same length. While a really rough compare, it emphasizes that there simply is no room for any spare, donut or otherwise

I should have said that it ‘should’ be permanent, because anything else is just dangerous.

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