When Tesla delayed its robotaxi launch event by two months, CEO Elon Musk hinted that the extra time would allow them to reveal "a few other things." One of those things appears to be wireless charging—a technology no company has successfully implemented so far.
The wireless charging patent was discovered by X user SETI Park, who shared the details on social media. Tesla’s WO2024182372 patent, filed in February 2024 and published on September 6, describes a system with a wall box connected to a floor charging pad. The system is designed to adjust to variations in wireless charging configurations.
Which Tesla Models Will Feature Wireless Charging?
Tesla has been working on wireless charging for some time, investing $76 million in the technology last year. The robotaxi, expected to feature full autonomy and potentially use the "Cybercab" name, seems like the perfect candidate for this hands-free charging solution, which is set to debut at the October launch event.
Interestingly, the Cybertruck might also be equipped with wireless charging capabilities. Tesla’s service manual reportedly reveals that the Cybertruck has preinstalled Inductive Charging Headers, hinting that other models may also benefit from this technology.
If successful, Tesla could be the first automaker to fully realize wireless charging, a goal that has eluded others. While some companies have made progress in recent years, none have fully cracked the code.
However, it’s important to note that Tesla hasn’t officially confirmed that the robotaxi will feature inductive charging. We’ll have to wait until the robotaxi launch on October 10 to see if the tech lives up to the hype.
Source: Carbuzz
