Wireless charging for vehicles could come in 2017

Formula E safety car already featuring the technology

The first electric vehicles to feature a wireless charging may be launched as early as 2017.

Citing Qualcomm's VP of business development and marketing for the inductive charging system Halo, Dr. Anthony Thompson, Left Lane News says the first models could arrive on the market within three years. "We're in discussions at some level with all of the major companies developing electric vehicles, and some requests for quotations have already gone out", he comments.

It is said that at first the added cost will likely limit the technology to an upgrade option mainly for luxury models. However, Thompson says the market will be dominated by wireless charging within ten years from now.

Qualcomm has already equipped the BMW i8 Formula E safety car with its Halo system.