The use of electrical gadgets has become more prevalent these past few decades. As people continuously look for ways to make day-to-day lives more convenient, innovations of existing inventions are non-stop.
One of these is the improvement of charging technology. It all started with Tesla’s magnetic resonant coupling, which allows energy to be sent and received over the air through a transmitter and a receiver. While this technique did not have real-world application for around a century, the modern world sees different wireless charging technology methods developed based on that idea.
Growth in the Market
With the constant development of wireless chargers, cables and cords are about to be a thing of the past. In fact, an Allied Market Research report shows that the value of the wireless charging market worldwide has reached $6.51 billion in 2018. Following the trend, a 22.2% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is expected between 2020 and 2027. That means the expected value of the market is approximately $40.24 billion.
Different Standards
Before moving on to the future, it is important to understand how wireless charging technology works. For this, it is necessary to be aware of the standards that manufacturers follow.
- Qi Standard
The Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) created Qi, which also happens to be the most widely used standard in the wireless charging industry. This standard is for inductive charging that could reach up to 40mm. The frequency that falls under Qi is 110-22kHz, and the power should be less than 100W. It is often the standard followed by smartphone manufacturers.
- Ki Cordless Kitchen Standard
In 2019, the WPC also released the Ki cordless kitchen standard. As the name suggests, it applies to cordless kitchen appliances that only require up to 2.2kW of electricity. These include kettles, heating equipment, and low-voltage juicers.
- SAE Standard
The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) created a wireless power transfer (WPT) standard. This standard applies to electric cars and involves the use of resonant inductive coupling for charging.
What to Expect
Wireless charging technology is not a new concept. The most common gadget that uses it is the smartphone. Many manufacturers came up with charging pads that do not require cables and cords. Apple and Google, for instance, both gave the green light to wireless pads. Thus, helping them make their way into more airports, cafes, libraries, and restaurants. Even IKEA, the famous furniture retailer, has started manufacturing tables and desks with charging hotspots.
The mobile phone industry is not the only one venturing into wireless charging technology. The automobile industry, for example, has expanded into electric vehicles. While it may not be as widespread as fuel-driven cars, the global market size for electric vehicles has already grown to $246.70 billion in 2020.
With the expectation of further growth, which is seen to reach around $1,318.22 billion in 2028, the industry is working on the development of wireless charging technology for electric vehicles.
In the UK, the Transport Secretary has announced last year its £3.4 million investment in wireless charging technology trials for taxis in Nottingham. This initiative is seen to provide alternative charging that will allow multiple taxis to recharge at the same time.
Another promising project is the incorporation of wireless charging technology in medical devices. A promising project is the In-Vivo Networking (IVN). A team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers has developed this system in 2018. It aims to allow implanted medical devices to operate using external radio frequency waves. The prototype is as small as a grain of rice, but the researchers said it could be even smaller. Once ready for real-world use, these devices can help doctors with the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of many diseases.
Wireless charging offers more than just convenience. This technology is dependable and secure. With the robust advances in various industries, it can be safe to assume that the future of wireless charging technology is bright.