Tesla Acquires Wireless Charging Tech Firm Wiferion

Wiferion, a German company specialising in wireless charging tech, has been acquired by Tesla.

American EV firm Tesla Motors has quietly acquired German wireless charging tech firm Wiferion. Though neither firms disclosed the price of the acquisition, sources online report that Tesla spent US$76 million (approx. RM346.37 million) based on an undisclosed funds outflow stated in its latest earnings report.

What piques the interest of many industry pundits is the Wiferion firm itself. Said German tech developers has experience developing and manufacturing inductive charging systems. It also has primarily provided such solutions to transport systems, forklifts, and robots.

Tesla had previously teased a future wireless charging device for EVs in a presentation during its Investors Day event earlier this year.

Since Tesla acquired the company, updates made to the German Commercial Registry – Germany’s equivalent to our SSM – Indicates an increased focus on “products and services in the field of power electronics and other technical disciplines to support the advancement of electric vehicles and stationary energy storage systems and devices.”

Prior to this reported acquisition, Tesla has been rather open about its recent development efforts surrounding wireless charging solutions for its EVs. By taking over Wiferion, it is widely assumed that the American EV firm will leverage on the expertise in this field held by the German firm, perhaps as a means to improve its own system.

Built by US-based WiTricity, this prototype Tesla Model 3 is equipped with a 'Halo' wireless charging system based on licensed tech from Wiferion.

Earlier this year, Tesla had hinted plans of adopting wireless charging tech for its EVs. This was confirmed through a presentation slide by Tesla’s head of Global Charging Infrastructure, Rebecca Tinucci, showing what appears to be a Model S parked over a inductive charging pad.

Presently, Wiferion already has such a tech in existence. Prototypes of which were built by US-based WiTricity through a global licensing agreement. Said US firm revealed a working prototype using a Model 3 that can accept 11 kW wireless charging through its Halo wireless charging system.

Said prototype stands on par with Tesla’s own proprietary Wall Connector, which can dispense up to 11.5 kW via cable connector. Surely, we can likely expect Tesla to further develop the tech and offer customers with a wireless charging system for existing and upcoming Tesla models.