High-Speed Wireless Car Charging: What You Need to Know in 2025
Okay, so I’ve been obsessed with wireless chargers since around 2018. It started when I was still doing electrical engineering at Samsung—spent three years in their wireless power division, which was way cooler than it sounds. Now I’ve got this whole setup in my Austin home office, and Sarah (my partner) is constantly complaining about how many chargers I’ve everywhere.
The cats don’t help either. Mochi knocked over my entire testing bench last month, trying to get to some catnip I’d hidden behind my Anker collection. Destroyed two perfectly good PowerWaves. Boba watches, as if he’s judging my life choices.
But here’s the thing—this year, I finally got to test high-speed wireless car charging for actual cars. Not those little 15W pads for your phone. I’m referring to 22,000 watts of power being transmitted through the air to a car battery. Sarah was like, “You’re driving to Michigan in February to test a car charger?” and honestly, yeah, that’s precisely what I did.
What Is High-Speed Wireless Car Charging?
High-speed wireless car charging works similarly to your phone’s wireless charging pad, but on a much larger scale and with significantly more power. Instead of 15W, we’re talking about 22kW. You park over a charging pad built into the ground, where electromagnetic fields transfer power to your car through the air gap. No cables, no plugging things in, and no standing around in parking garages hoping the connector works.
I tested WiTricity’s 22kW system at this parking garage in Boston, located next to a fantastic coffee shop where I lived for a week, and added 60 miles of range during my usual 45-minute caffeine ritual. Way better than those early wireless charging systems that barely kept up with your car’s vampire drain.
The latest wireless EV charging systems can deliver a meaningful range during coffee stops. Compare that to first-generation wireless chargers, which took hours to add, at most, 20 miles of range.
My Wireless Charging Testing Experience
Been the wireless charging guy at TechRadar for three years now. Previously, Android Authority and iMore have published over 200 reviews to date. My home office resembles what Sarah calls “Michael’s charging museum,” except she’s not being nice about it.
I’ve over 50 wireless chargers organized in these labeled bins because I’m that guy who labels everything. I own a temperature gun, decibel meter, power meters, and the whole kit and caboodle. I also own an iPhone 15 Pro Max, Pixel 8 Pro, and Galaxy S24 Ultra. Additionally, I’ve my personal Polestar 2, which is great except that it can’t do wireless charging yet, and that bugs me more than it should.
For this wireless car charging deep dive, I spent six months testing:
- WiTricity’s 22kW system in Boston excellent coffee nearby)
- Plugless Power’s 7.2kW Tesla retrofit
- Electreon’s dynamic road charging in Michigan (terrible idea going in February)
- BMW’s factory wireless on some iX they let me borrow
The cats were pissed about me traveling so much. Like genuinely upset.
How Wireless Car Charging Works
Wireless car charging utilizes electromagnetic induction, a concept discovered by Michael Faraday in 1831, but engineering advancements have significantly improved it. Here’s what happens:
A ground pad (approximately the size of a pizza box) features copper coils that generate high-frequency electromagnetic fields when activated. Typically, these fields operate at around 85 kHz, which is well above the range of human hearing, resulting in a silent environment. This field transfers power across an air gap of 3-8 inches to coils mounted under your car.
Here’s what they don’t tell you in the marketing stuff—positioning matters more than you’d think. With WiTricity’s system, I could be off maybe 6 inches and still get over 90% efficiency. But go outside that sweet spot and efficiency just tanks to like 40% or worse. There’s visual guidance, but you can’t just park like you do at a gas station.
I spent way too much time testing this alignment thing. I like embarrassingly detailed testing because that’s who I am.
Qi Wireless Charging vs Car Systems
Unlike Qi charging for phones, car systems require significantly more power and a better position. Wireless charging pads for phones operate at a maximum of 15W. Car systems deliver 22kW—that’s over 1,400 times more power through inductive charging.
The temperature readings surprised me. After 30 minutes of 22 kW charging in a 95°F Austin summer, I measured the ground pad at 110°F using my temperature gun. It was warm but not alarming. My iPhone gets hotter when I charge it wirelessly on my nightstand.
Best Wireless Car Charging Companies in 2025
WiTricity – The Clear Winner
After testing their 22kW system numerous times, WiTricity has the best technology I’ve seen. Positioning tolerance is forgiving, build quality feels like it won’t break in two months, and they’ve got deals with BMW, Toyota, and Nissan. Their engineers know the difference between “works in a lab” and “works in Texas summer.”
Foreign object detection also works quite well. I intentionally dropped my phone on the charging pad, and the power cut off immediately. The same applies to a wrench—system detected it right away and shut down.
Plugless Power – Decent Retrofit Options
These guys do aftermarket work for existing EVs. I tested their Tesla Model S upgrade, which maxes out at 7.2kW, so it’s fine for overnight charging but not exactly “high-speed.” Installation took most of a Saturday, and a certified technician is required to complete it. However, once it’s set up, it just works.
Positioning tolerance isn’t as good as WiTricity, though. I had to be more careful with parking, which got annoying after a few weeks.
Electreon – Dynamic Charging Innovation
Electreon offers dynamic charging—wireless power while you’re driving. I tested their pilot road in Michigan, and honestly, the technology works. The car maintained its battery charge while driving over embedded road coils at speeds of around 65 mph.
But infrastructure requirements are insane. Special road construction and electrical work every few hundred feet. Cool for bus routes, but years away for regular highways.
Where to Find Wireless Car Charging in 2025
Reality check—wireless car charging spots are still pretty rare. I’ve been tracking them, and there are maybe 200 spots across North America. Most are 7.2 kW systems in corporate places and fancy hotels.
Current Locations
California leads with about 60 installations. LA has this pilot with 15kW chargers at three downtown parking structures. Detroit’s testing some fleet stuff. Stockholm has the most ambitious thing—12 locations with 22kW systems.
Texas has approximately 15 spots, mainly located on corporate campuses in Austin and Dallas. New York has a handful of premium hotels and office buildings.
Installation costs are a significant factor contributing to the slow process, ranging from $3,000 to $8,000 per spot, plus additional electrical work. You can install 2-3 regular chargers for the exact price. Math doesn’t work yet for most places.
Benefits of Wireless Car Charging
Ultimate Convenience
After six months of regular wireless charging in Boston, I’m a convert to the convenience. You park, walk away, and charging happens. No cables to grab, no checking if ports work, no fumbling with connectors in dark garages.
This matters way more in bad weather than I thought. During February’s ice storm, regular charging cables were frozen to ports. Wireless worked perfectly—can’t freeze something that doesn’t exist.
No Cable Problems
Charging station vandalism is a genuine concern—I’ve documented dozens of cases where cables have been cut or stolen. Wireless charging pads flush with pavement eliminate this. The Boston garage manager said they’ve had zero wireless maintenance versus monthly cable repairs.
Perfect for Fleet Charging
The technology shines for delivery trucks and commercial fleets. Vehicles can charge automatically during loading without driver intervention. Way more efficient than having drivers mess with cables all day.
Wireless Car Charging Limitations
Efficiency Loss Hurts Your Wallet
Even perfectly aligned wireless systems lose 8-10% more energy than cable charging. I measured this consistently—88-92% efficiency versus 94-96% for AC cables. That translates directly to higher costs.
Misalignment makes it way worse. Park 8 inches off-center, and efficiency drops to 60% at current electricity prices, which is a significant loss.
Installation Complexity
Every installation I’ve seen required significant groundwork. Boston garage took three weeks versus two days for regular chargers. One mall showed me photos of an 18-inch excavation for conduits—a massive disruption.
Vehicle Compatibility Issues
Most EVs can’t use wireless charging without expensive retrofits. BMW offers factory-installed wireless in the iX/i4 in some markets. Genesis planning for 2026. Everyone else needs a $2,000-$ 4,000 retrofit kit that might void their warranties.
I couldn’t test with my Polestar 2 because no compatible receiver exists. Classic chicken-and-egg problem.
Power Limitations for Road Trips
22kW wireless charges way slower than 150kW+ DC fast chargers. Fine for daily stuff, but terrible for road trips. Added maybe 150 miles during a 3-hour mall visit—helpful but not revolutionary.
Future of Wireless Car Charging
Based on CES 2025 and industry people I talk to:
2025-2026: 50kW systems enter testing. More automakers are announcing factory integration.
2027-2028: SAE J2954 standardization enables cross-platform compatibility. Costs should decrease as contractors become more proficient in installations.
2029-2030: Dynamic highway charging beyond bus routes. Autonomous vehicles are driving adoption since they can park themselves perfectly over charging pads.
Typical car stuff—luxury first, mainstream as costs drop.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is wireless car charging safe? Yeah, safe when properly installed. The electromagnetic fields are well within safety guidelines. I measured EMF levels during testing—way lower than what you get from a microwave.
How much does wireless car charging cost? Expect 15-25% higher costs than regular charging due to efficiency losses. The Boston pilot charged $0.35/kWh, compared to $0.28/kWh for cable charging.
Which cars support wireless charging? Currently, just the BMW iX and i4 are available in select markets. Genesis is planning for 2026 models. Tesla, Ford, and GM don’t offer it yet. Most need expensive aftermarket retrofits.
How precise is parking alignment? The latest systems are forgiving. WiTricity provides about 6 inches of wiggle room. Early systems, on the other hand, required millimeter precision, which was utterly impractical.
Do you know if I can install wireless charging at home? Technically, yes, but it’s expensive and complicated. The costs range from $3,000 to $ 6,000 for residential systems, plus additional electrical work. Most people are better off waiting for prices to drop.
Is Wireless Car Charging Worth It in 2025?
After extensive testing, wireless car charging is effective in specific situations but isn’t yet ready for widespread adoption. If you have predictable parking, prioritize convenience over efficiency, the technology delivers.
For most people? Wait 2-3 years. Costs will drop, more cars will support it, and power levels will increase. Current technology is effective, but it comes with premium pricing, which limits its practicality and accessibility.
Early adopters with regular parking routines get a genuinely better daily experience. Everyone else should stick with regular charging—infrastructure expanding fast and way more cost-effective.
High-speed wireless car charging crossed the “actually works” threshold in 2025. Now needs to cross the “makes financial sense” threshold. Getting there but not yet.
