From soccer balls and toothbrushes to keyboards and mobile devices, inductive charging systems are steadily becoming a viable option for charging electronic devices. Instead of plugging multiple cords into wall sockets, you simply place your devices on top of a mat. How easy is that?
Now German automakers are trying to incorporate this technology into electric vehicles as part of government-backed initiative to build an energy-efficient house that produces more electricity than it consumes.
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Loosely translated as "Efficient House Plus with electric mobility," the Effizienzhaus-Plus mit Elektromobilitat project will find a family of four to live in a Berlin house for fifteen months, beginning in March 2012. The house and project is designed to show how energy-efficiency can be coupled with every-day living.
The house, which officially opened earlier this month, is outfitted with photovoltaic cells and an energy management system that will feed surplus electricity back into the grid or store it in batteries used to charge electric vehicles.
Audi, BMW, Daimler, Opel and Volkswagon will each provide electric vehicles to the house in three month rotations.
Daimler is modifying a Mercedes-Benz A-Class E-CELL to include an induction charging option. All the driver needs to do is park the car over a charging coil, located in the ground to enjoy cable-free charging compliments of an electromagnetic field.
Along with the A-CLASS E-CELL, Daimler will also contribute a second-generation smart fortwo electric drive and a smart ebike.
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"This house shows what is already possible today," said Federal Chancellor, Dr. Angela Merkel in a press release. "It links energy-efficient building with innovative mobility in an intelligent manner. Energy-efficient buildings and electric mobility are major keystones for speeding up the implementation of our energy strategy."
[Via GizMag]
Credit: Daimler
Tags: Auto, Cars, Electric Bicycles, Electric Cars, Electric Vehicles
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