It appears Audi is developing a wireless charging system for its next-generation R8 and possible future models. The news comes as Tobias Meyer of Audi’s product marketing department mentioned the experimentation with inductive wireless charging to CarAdvice at the debut of the gasoline-electric A3 e-tron .
Apparently the German automaker is in the very early stages of product development with such a system. “It’s brand new, and wireless charging is an expensive technology,” Meyer says. “We are discussing the topic right now….it’s under investigation.”
The wireless charging system would work by parking a compatible car atop a charging plate. That plate would then communicate and then charge the car via a matching charging plate installed on the car’s underbelly, eliminating the need of a plug.
At this point, the possibility of wireless charging is still a distant goal, but one that potentially may come on the next-generation Audi R8 e-tron set to enter its second generation in 2015. If Audi brings wireless car charging to market, it would be an industry first. However, Audi may have some competition, as BMW and Daimler have announced plans to jointly develop a wireless charging system. LINK
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