High-powered wireless charging for Norway’s Jaguar taxis

The City of Oslo is to receive 25 Jaguar i-Pace taxis which have high-powered wireless charging capability as part of a new initiative to drive greater public use of electric vehicles.

The ElectriCity programme will see Jaguar Land Rover providing the 25 electric vehicles to taxi network operator Cabonline (NorgesTaxi AS)

Fortum Recharge, Momentum Dynamics and the City of Oslo are also involved in the programme to a build infrastructure for these taxis in the Norwegian capital.

Jaguar Land Rover says the i-Pace has been designed to enable Momentum Dynamic’s wireless charging technology. A team of engineers and technicians from both companies were engaged to help in testing the solution.

The project will be the first wireless high-powered charging system for electric taxis in the world and by providing a charging infrastructure model that can be implemented almost anywhere, it will help the rapid adoption of electric vehicles globally.

Fortum Recharge, who will be supporting the installation and electrification of the project, identified the need for a more efficient charging experience for taxi drivers in Oslo and enlisted the support of Momentum Dynamics in integrating the wireless charging infrastructure.

It says taxi drivers need a charging system that does not take them off route during their working hours. Multiple charging plates rated at 50-75 kilowatts each, are installed in the ground in series at pick-up-drop-off points. This allows each equipped taxi to charge while queuing for the next fare.

The system, which uses no cables and is situated below ground, requires no physical connection between charger and vehicle, engages automatically and provides on average six to eight minutes of energy per each charge up to 50kW.

The taxi then receives multiple charges throughout the day on its return to the rank, maintaining a high battery state of charge and the ability to remain in 24/7 service without driving range restrictions.

The Oslo ElectriCity

partnership is part of Jaguar Land Rover’s ambition to make societies healthier and safer. The company says its focus is on achieving Destination Zero, a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

“We’re extremely proud of our track record in electrification and we’re committed to making electric vehicles easier to own and use. The taxi industry is the ideal test bed for wireless charging, and indeed for high-mileage electric mobility across the board,” Jaguar Land Rover chief executive Professor Sir Ralf Speth says.

“The safe, energy efficient and high-powered wireless charging platform will prove critical for electric fleets, as the infrastructure is more effective than refuelling a conventional vehicle.

“We’re delighted to be part of ElectriCity and to continue to lead the field in electric vehicle technology. This is a great step forward to reaching our Destination Zero mission,” Speth says.

Oslo will be the world’s first metropolitan area to install wireless, induction-based high-powered charging stations for electric taxis, in a bid to make its cab system emission free as early as 2024.

Norway wants to go even further however and is mandating that all new cars sold in the country by 2025 are zero emission.