One of the problems with electric cars -- there seems to be many -- is that they're not exactly the most user friendly to charge. Considering that's one of the vehicle's key elements to fuel up, that's a pretty big barrier of entry.
If you're not lucky enough to have a garage for your electric baby, be prepared for a bit of an annoying experience. Not only do you have to locate a socket to plug into and if you want to avoid electrocution -- and believe me, you want to -- you have to keep the plug from getting wet.
But if you want to avoid that altogether, then the way to go is wireless charging. Much like Steve Jobs would say about Apple's iCloud, "It just works." Essentially, owners back their EV up over the large plastic pad, and the juice will start flowing.
The big hurdle with this technology is having it installed.
Wireless charging could be the first idea that can make EVs easy to scale on a higher level as it's been predicted that plastic pads could be installed at rest stops and other public locations.
Then again, is this just another distraction from the core of the problem with EVs? The demand just simply doesn't meet expectations.
Look for wireless charging to make a surge in 2013 model year vehicles.
Wireless charging is still not common, particularly with the disappearance of the Palm Pre, which was one of the main gadgets to utilize the trick for ultra-convenient connection to a battery-boosting charger. That makes Nissan's moves with its Leaf EV all the more interesting: To charge your 2013 Leaf, all you'll have to do is park it on the requisite spot of your garage.
The setup is rather simple at first glimpse: Instead of flipping open a door on your car and connecting in a large electric plug, wired to a wall charger point, you reverse your Leaf over a large plastic pad on the floor...
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