October 21, 2024 – Tesla has recently responded to criticisms regarding the efficiency of its wireless charging system for the Cybercab, stating that its efficiency “far exceeds 90%”. This response comes after tech blogger Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) raised concerns on social media about the potential “huge waste of heat” in wireless charging, suggesting that the efficiency might only be around “75%”.
Tesla’s clarification has surprised Brownlee, who admitted his mistake and expressed excitement for the product’s launch. The company had announced at its “We, Robot” event earlier this year that the Cybercab would adopt wireless charging instead of the traditional NACS port. Although wireless charging was expected to play a significant role in Tesla’s future robot taxi plans, it was only at the “We, Robot” event that Tesla publicly showcased the wireless charging system.
During the event, Tesla demonstrated the Cybercab charging at 19kW power at a 35% charge state, surpassing the approximately 11.5kW power provided by the company’s Wall Connector. Additionally, in a video released by Tesla on Thursday, a Cybercab was shown wirelessly charging at 25kW.
Furthermore, Tesla has been actively filing patents related to wireless charging technology. In September, the company applied for a patent on a wireless charging pad, and in July, it applied for a patent on an automatic cleaning system, which was later showcased along with the wireless charger.
Tesla’s foray into wireless charging was hinted last year when the company acquired Wiferion, a wireless charging company. Although Tesla later sold Wiferion, it retained some of the technical staff, indicating the company’s commitment to advancing its wireless charging technology.
The recent showcase and efficiency clarification by Tesla highlight the company’s focus on automating various aspects of vehicle operation, including driving, cleaning, and charging, suggesting that the Cybercab is on track to achieve fully automated operation without human intervention.