Wireless Power Transfer: A Paradigm Shift for the Next Generation

The first generation of wireless power transfer (WPT) standard Qi, launched in 2010, contains a wide range of transmitter and receiver designs with the aim of maximizing compatibility to attract many manufacturers to share the same standard. Such compatibility feature (i.e., interoperability) has not only attracted over 400 company members in the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC), but also facilitated a fast-growing wireless power market for a decade. The WPC is now expanding the scope of WPT applications to mid-power and high-power applications up to several kilowatts while the Society for Automobile Engineers (SAE) also set the SAE standard for wireless charging of electric vehicles (EVs) up to tens of kilowatts. Without compromising compatibility, the authors share in this article their views on the need for a paradigm shift from compatibility to optimal performance in terms of maximum energy efficiency for the entire charging process and minimum charging time. This paradigm change is imminent and important in view of the increasing power of WPT applications. Several enabling technologies essential to the paradigm shift will be addressed.