Genesis Stop Developing EV Charging System Without Cables

Electrified G80. (Doc. Genesis)

JAKARTA - The development of unwired electric vehicle battery charging has faced a number of challenges, including lower efficiency, limited power capacity, proper vehicle position requirements, indiscrimination, higher costs, potential travel distance reduction, various technology standards, and environmental influences.

Despite this, efforts continue to be made to address these obstacles and improve unwired charging technology for electric vehicles, with the hope that further innovation and research will help overcome these challenges over time.

However, Genesis, a luxury brand from Hyundai, was recently rumored to have stopped developing an EV charging system without cables due to low demand and technical challenges.

According to a report from a Korean publication, Bloter, quoted from Carbuzz, September 28, the decision came after the company previously showed high interest in unwired charging technology, which should have been available to other models in its EV portfolio.

Genesis is now rumored to be more focused on premium charging services, but will use plugs than a more convenient wireless way.

According to the report, one of the problems with unwired charging faced by customers is the reduction in travel distance, with EVs using this system having a distance of almost 20 km shorter than those filled with conventional plugs.

Additionally, wireless EV charging is considered unreliable and slow, with users reporting the same charging time as at home, with charging levels of about 11kW or equivalent to overnight charging. Instead, Genesis vehicles can be charged up to 350kW when connected to DC fast chargers, allowing fast charging from 10 to 80 percent in less than 20 minutes, making them one of the fastest-selling EVs currently on sale.

Charging systems are nothing new, with the first example emerging since 2020. Genesis is the first to be reportedly adopting this system with the GV60 model. And unwired EV charging started operating in February 2022 at two Genesis showrooms in Seoul and a Hyundai showroom.

This year, Hyundai filed a patent to improve its current wireless charging system. One of the improvements includes a larger distance between the two electromagnetic rolls, which allows for more tolerance for incompatibility. However, it appears the company will be leaving the project, with reports pointing to other Korean brands, KG Mobility (previously SSangYong), to take over this endeavor.

Hyundai isn't the only automotive manufacturer looking at unwired EV charging technology. Volvo has started testing this system on XC40 Recharge, with the belief that it can improve the technology for three years. BMW has also talked about this topic, although it only goes through small-scale launches.

But given the conditions that occur in the field, charging an EV without cables may be more troublesome than the comfort it gets in conventional ways.