Hyundai working on revolutionary wireless charging roads

A new Hyundai patent for a road that wirelessly charges your EV on the move has been unearthed suggesting the Korean car-maker is working hard to ensure the concept could become reality.

Wireless charging roads have been mooted as one part of the infrastructure puzzle that could help pave the way for mass-adoption of EVs.

Clever wireless charging roads are nothing new, with trials already taking place in the US, France, Norway and Sweden, but the recent Hyundai patent is said to introduce a novel technical solution to ensuring that they work even when road conditions are less than perfect.

The Korean brand's approach at dealing with bumps, potholes and generally uneven surfaces is to use a vehicle that sits on a height adjustable inductive power transfer coupler that automatically raises and lowers itself to match the terrain below.

Enabling it to mirror the local topography, Hyundai uses a forward-facing camera to read the road's surface ahead and then adjust the suspension and coupler as a result to ensure an uninterrupted wireless charge.

Harnessing the power of vehicle-to-everything (V2X) technology to collect real-time data, the car's navigation system can then suggest the most efficient wireless charging routes for other road users.

One crucial issue not addressed by Hyundai's new tech is the huge cost of rolling out the tech.

But it's thought a government-backed roll-out of the wireless charging roads in South Korea could inspire other countries to adopt them.

In Australia, Hyundai currently sells the IONIQ 5 and 6 and Kona electric. It will soon add the Inster and IONIQ 9 to its portfolio.

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