Wireless charging for electric transit buses: Here’s how it works

Inductive wireless charging avoids the power requirements of depot charging and can be more efficient and cost-effective, said an executive for a wireless EV charging supplier.

To those who don’t know how it works, using wireless chargers to recharge electric transit buses “appears to be a little bit like black magic,” said John Rizzo, chief technology and strategy officer for InductEV. Based on his work with the wireless electric vehicle charging supplier, he admits the technology’s novelty has made some transit agencies hesitant to adopt it.

Often, transit agencies charge their buses nightly with wired chargers when the vehicles return for cleaning and maintenance. But charging all those buses at the same time overnight puts a high demand on the local power grid.

Wireless charging along bus routes, however, can be more efficient and cost-effective than depot charging, Rizzo said. Daytime charging also allows transit agencies to take advantage of renewable energy, like solar, that is produced when the sun is up.