The first Electric Rolls Royce will feature wireless charging

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Submitted by Don Bain on March 2, 2011 - 2:42PM

Electric cars are not only for the rich any more than combustion cars were, but there will be electric cars only the rich can afford. Rolls Royce has developed a test vehicle to explore alternatives to combustion engines for the first time in their 107-year history.

What’s more, HaloIPT will supply its wireless charging technology to the 102EX Phantom experimental vehicle unveiled this week at the Geneva Auto Show.

HaloIPT is a leader in the wireless charging field and the first to allow cars fitted with an integrated receiver to be powered up when parked over buried transmitter pads.

Inductive Power Transfer or IPT is remarkably able to transmit power across significant gaps and very forgiving of parking misalignment, rivaling a physical plug’s ability to recharge battery power packs.

The process is identical to the pads on which you can charge your phone or iTouch without actually connecting to a charging cord.

It will transmit right through asphalt and even functions through a covering of ice and snow.

In theory, such pads could be built into roadways, charging vehicles as they pass over at full speed, eliminating the range restrictions of electric vehicles.

"We are delighted to provide our wireless charging technology for this trial,” said Dr Anthony Thomson, CEO of HaloIPT. “Industry feedback so far tells us that the automation advantages of wireless charging make it the best charging solution for luxury electric vehicles and will be the key to unlocking the potential of this exciting market. Users don't need to get out of their vehicles and hunt for a cable to plug-in, they will just park and walk away while their car starts charging automatically ... the ultimate in modern convenience."

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is seeking to ignite a global debate around the car. Owners, media and Rolls-Royce enthusiasts are encouraged to contribute, feeding back thoughts, concerns and questions on the use of battery electric technology for super luxury cars.

Join in the discussion…

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on May 27, 2011 - 2:04AM

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Rolls royce is a huge car with huge appetite on gas. Once you step on the pedal and rolls on the streets the measure of gas it takes is huge. That is why manufacturers like Toyota and Nissan have invested a lot on its research on making cars that are not dependable on petrol alone. This move will make the luxury brand a pioneer in wireless charging and above all else all cars with rolls royce parts with now depend on the power of electricity.