Hertz to Trial Wireless EV Recharging
‘Plugless Power’ utilizes inductive power transfer, which has been used in electrical transformers for more than 100 years.
The Hertz Corp. and Hertz Global EV are implementing the first wireless charging system for electric vehicles (EVs) in the car rental industry, according to a Feb. 8 press release.
The trial, the first of its kind in the world, will follow Hertz, and leaders from five other industry segments, as they trial “Plugless Power” systems on their own EVs. Participants will provide feedback on daily usage routines, user interfaces and any additional functionality needed.
Plugless Power, supplied by Evatran based in Virginia, utilizes inductive power transfer, which has been used in electrical transformers for more than 100 years. Plugless Power streamlines the charging of EVs by eliminating the cord and the plug. In addition to aftermarket distribution, Evatran is currently working with automotive manufacturers to integrate the Plugless Power technology into mass-market EVs as a factory or dealership option.
Installation at Hertz's corporate headquarters will be completed in February 2012.
"Hertz is committed to its Global EV program, introducing electric vehicles into our rental fleet on three continents — North America, Asia and Europe," said Mark P. Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO. "We're excited to participate in Plugless Power's pilot program so that we can be on the ground floor of this new technology; learning key findings about EV wireless charging. As we move forward our goal is to have a variety of charging options for EV customer use, aligned with the charging equipment installed by EV manufacturers."
Hertz is the first car rental company to deploy EVs and PHEVs (plug-in hybrid electric) on three continents in the cities of New York, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, London and Shanghai.
Hertz plans to increase its global EV presence by deploying vehicles in other countries in the coming months. In an interview with Auto Rental News in August, Hertz spokesperson Rich Broome said the company plans to have 1,000 EVs on the road by the end of this year.
Hertz Global EV will continue to leverage the company's rental and car-sharing locations as bases for vehicles and charging stations, the release states.
For more information, visit www.pluglesspower.com.
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