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oyota’s electric cars are charging into the future with a new way of charging provided by WiTricity that allows batteries to be charged over a distance.
Instead of plugging a cord into the car, the car is parked over the wireless charging system and is automatically charged.
The Toyota electric car charging station uses a a magnetic charging plate on the garage floor and send signals to the a charging device in the under carriage of the a Toyota EV car of plug-in hybrid. Models that will work with the feature include the Avalon Hybrid, Camry Hybrid, Highlander Hybrid, Prius c, Prius Plug-In, Prius v and RAV4 EV.
Electricity is transmitted using magnetic resonance that results from changes in magnetic field intensity between a transmitting coil on the ground and a receiving coil on the car. Charging time should be about 90 minutes.
Wireless charging from Toyota should be coming in 2016. A price has not been set, yet, however, analysts predict a price range from $2500-$3000.
Other electric cars that can use magnetic wireless charging are the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf with after market products that cost around $3000.