Toyota has announced that it has begun work on a wireless charging system that could fully charge the battery in a plug-in hybrid or all-electric vehicle in just 90 minutes.
The system works via a coil set into the surface of a parking space transmitting electricity by means of magnetic resonance to a corresponding coil underneath the car. Toyota says the system has been optimised so that no electricity is lost if the coils are not lined up properly - though a secondary parking system is also in development to help drivers get the alignment right in the first place.
Testing will begin next month with three plug-in hybrids involved. Toyota will assess user satisfaction, the system's ease of use, misalignment rates and charging behaviour, such as how often charging takes place and timer-based charging it used.
Anything else?
Toyota confirmed that the system is being developed with a future market in mind so the days of lugging a charging cable around in the wind and rain may soon come to an end.