The 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550e plug-in hybrid will have Qualcomm’s wireless charging system.
The new 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550e plug-in hybrid will have wireless electric vehicle charging (WEVC) technology developed by Qualcomm. This feature was earlier available in BMW i8 safety car used in the Formula E.
Qualcomm’s (WEVC) technology, known as Halo, will enable the S550e to charge while being parked over the charging pad. A Tier 1 licensed power electronics supplier will manufacture the system for Mercedes-Benz.
This system will make the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550e the first electric car to come with wireless-charging as a dealer-installed option. During the press conference, while announcing the 2017 S550e, Qualcomm and Mercedes described their wireless option as “an important step” in the development of autonomous cars.
The charging pad contains metal coils that charge the 3.6 kW system through a dense magnetic field, with approximately 90% efficiency. Qualcomm is currently working on improving the efficiency and increasing the amount of power transferred. We might also be able to charge electric cars while driving in the near future, as Qualcomm is now making a new in-road charging system.
The new Mercedes S550e will be launched next year and its price details are yet to be released.