WiTricity is collaborating with YuTong Bus in China to provide wireless charging for YuTong’s autonomous electric buses.
The commercial deployment of wireless charging in YuTong’s e-buses will debut in Zhengzhou, China, on the Xiaoyu 2.0 autonomous minibus. The Level 4 autonomous bus that seats 10 passengers has a range of 150 km (approx. 93 miles). WiTricity is deploying its Halo chargers, which don’t need to be plugged in to charge the vehicle. As transit applications for autonomous shuttles and buses grow worldwide, WiTricity says wireless charging will play a key role in keeping those vehicles on the road.
WiTricity says taxi trials are also underway, showing off the use of wireless charging in queues to give the taxis what WiTricity calls “power snacks” as they wait for their next fare.
