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{{Short description|Technology company}}
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{{use American English|date=October 2019}}
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{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = WiTricity
| name = WiTricity Corporation
| logo = WiTricity logo color 350.jpg
| logo = WiTricity logo color 350.jpg
| type = Private
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| native_name_lang = <!-- Use ISO 639-1 code, e.g. "fr" for French. For multiple names in different languages, use {{Lang|[code]|[name]}} in native_name = and leave native_name_lang = empty. -->
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| type = [[Privately held company|Private]]
| traded_as =
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| foundation = 2007
| ISIN =
| industry = [[Wireless power transfer]]
| genre =
| fate =
| predecessor = <!-- or: | predecessors = -->
| successor = <!-- or: | successors = -->
| founded = {{Start date and age|2007}}
| founder = [[Marin Soljačić]]
| founder = [[Marin Soljačić]]
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| defunct = <!-- {{End date|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| hq_location =
| location_city = [[Watertown, Massachusetts|Watertown]]
| hq_location_city = [[Watertown, Massachusetts]]
| location_country = United States
| hq_location_country = United States
| location = 57 Water Street
| area_served = Global
| num_locations =
| num_locations_year = <!-- Year of num_locations data (if known) -->
| key_people = Alex Gruzen, CEO, Don Peck, CFO, Morris Kesler, CTO,
| area_served = <!-- or: | areas_served = -->
| industry = Electric Vehicle Wireless Charging
| key_people = {{ubl|
| products = Magnetic Resonance Wireless Charging Technology
| Joe Benz ([[Chief executive officer|CEO]])
| num_employees = 59
| Morris Kesler ([[Chief technology officer|CTO]])
| homepage = {{URL|http://www.witricity.com}}
}}
}}
| products =
'''WiTricity''' is an [[MIT]] [[corporate spin-off|spinout]]. When it was founded in 2007, it was attempting both [[consumer electronics|consumer appliances]] as well as electric vehicle [[wireless charging]], as made clear by their former CEO, Eric Giler, in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|author=Robert Buderi |url=https://xconomy.com/boston/2009/06/16/witricity-charges-up-for-electric-vehicle-market/2/ |title=WiTricity Charges Up For Electric Vehicle Market - Page 2 of 2 |publisher=Xconomy |date=2009-06-16 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> Their vision of the future soon morphed into claims of wirelessly powering entire homes, including appliances, home computers, heating, lighting etc., simply by using giant transmitter coils embedded in the walls.<ref>{{cite web|author=Nick Glass and Matthew Ponsford |url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/14/tech/innovation/wireless-electricity/index.html|title=Wireless electricity? It's here |publisher=CNN |date=2014-03-28 |accessdate=2020-01-14}}</ref> They also were demonstrating drones being wirelessly charged using giant receiver coils placed between the feet of the drones, stating: "Drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), offer a rich application space for WiTricity magnetic resonance technology, both for wireless charging of drones and for delivery of wireless charging by drones.<ref>{{cite web|author=WiTricity |url=https://witricity.com/witricity-drones-and-phones/|title=Drones and Phones |publisher=WiTricity |date=2015-07-20 |accessdate=2020-01-14}}</ref> This vision was emphasized in late 2014 by their current CEO, Alex Gruzen who stated "I'm confident that we'll see many Rezence-based products at CES this [coming] year, and with major powerhouse organizations, like Intel, licensing our technology and implementing it as part of the Rezence specification, we're excited to see our vision of a wireless world start to become a commercial reality in the next year." <ref>{{cite web|author=Richard Lai |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014/11/06/expand-five-questions-for-witricity-ceo-alex-gruzen/ |title=Five questions for the man making contactless wireless power a reality |publisher=engadget |date=2014-11-06 |accessdate=2019-11-24}}</ref> It was not to be, and Intel abandoned its Rezence-based attempts in 2016,<ref>{{cite web|author=Elise Ackerman |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliseackerman/2016/06/06/intel-ceases-work-on-wireless-charging/#9a2cf83248ac |title=Intel Ceases Work On Wireless Charging |work=Forbes |date=2016-06-06 |accessdate=2019-11-24}}</ref> and by 2017, Rezence was over in effect, drones never took off, and wireless homes were clearly well out of reach. WiTricity announced layoffs as a result,<ref>{{cite news|author=Scott Kirsner|work=Boston Globe|date=December 15, 2017|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/12/15/witricity-takes-turn-toward-electric-car-charging/jbuwKKlY4qr18j0B7PCUII/story.html#comments|title=WiTricity takes a turn toward electric-car charging}}</ref> and now focuses solely on wireless charging systems for [[electric vehicles]] (EVs).
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| website = {{URL|witricity.com}}
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}}
'''WiTricity Corporation''' is an American [[Wireless power transfer|wireless charging]] technology company based in [[Watertown, Massachusetts]]. The [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT) spin-off was founded by professor [[Marin Soljačić]] in 2007. WiTricity technology allows wireless power transfer over distance via [[magnetic resonance]] and the company licenses technology and reference designs for [[Wireless vehicle charging|wireless electrical vehicle (EV) charging]] as well as consumer products such as [[laptop]]s, [[mobile phone]]s and [[television]]s.


==History==
WiTricity uses [[resonant inductive coupling]] technology principle for power transfer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.strategyanalytics.com/access-services/automotive/powertrain-body-chassis-and-safety/reports/report-detail/witricity-accelerates-wireless-charging|title=WiTricity Accelerates Wireless Charging Efforts, Partnering With 10 Auto Makers, China and Infrastructure Players|website=www.strategyanalytics.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref> As explained on the WiTricity website<ref>{{cite web|url=https://witricity.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/White_Paper_20161218.pdf |title=Highly Resonant Wireless Power Transfer |last=Kesler |first=Morris |date=2016 |website=witricity.com |access-date=2019-10-13}}</ref>, that approach invokes "coupled resonators"—created by tuning both the receiver and the transmitter independently to the same resonant frequency, in effect disregarding the effects of coupling when they are placed in close proximity<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lessmiths.com/~kjsmith/crystal/resonance.shtml |title=kjs crystal radio, resonance |publisher=Lessmiths.com |date= |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. As also mentioned on the Wikipedia page for [[wireless power transfer]], "a drawback of resonant coupling theory is that at close ranges when the two resonant circuits are tightly coupled, the resonant frequency of the system is no longer constant but splits into two resonant peaks, so the maximum power transfer no longer occurs at the original resonant frequency and the oscillator frequency must be re-tuned to the new resonance peak."<ref>{{Cite journal |doi = 10.3390/s16081229|pmid = 27527174|pmc = 5017394|title = Frequency Splitting Analysis and Compensation Method for Inductive Wireless Powering of Implantable Biosensors|journal = Sensors|volume = 16|issue = 8|pages = 1229|year = 2016|last1 = Schormans|first1 = Matthew|last2 = Valente|first2 = Virgilio|last3 = Demosthenous|first3 = Andreas}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.lessmiths.com/~kjsmith/crystal/resonance.shtml |title = KJS crystal radio, resonance}}</ref>
The company was established by [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT) professor [[Marin Soljačić]] in 2007.<ref name="Inc">{{cite journal |last1=Markowitz |first1=Eric |title=All of the Electric Power with None of the Wires: If WiTricity succeeds in developing its technology, the future of electricity could be bright--and wireless. |journal=[[Inc. (magazine)|Inc.]] |url=https://www.inc.com/audacious-companies/eric-markowitz/witricity.html?cid=hmsub7 |access-date=February 25, 2021 |date=April 18, 2013}}</ref><ref name="FC">{{cite journal |last1=Sullivan |first1=Mark |title=The Little Company That's Bringing Wireless Charging To Electric Cars |journal=[[Fast Company]] |date=February 27, 2018 |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/40533008/the-little-company-thats-bringing-wireless-charging-to-electric-cars |access-date=February 26, 2021}}</ref> The MIT [[Corporate spin-off|spin-off]] is based in [[Watertown, Massachusetts]].<ref name="Engel">{{cite news |last1=Engel |first1=Jeff Bauter |title=Dell Wirelessly Charging PC Marks WiTricity's First Consumer Device |url=https://xconomy.com/boston/2017/07/11/dell-wirelessly-charging-pc-marks-witricitys-first-consumer-device/ |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=[[Xconomy]] |date=July 11, 2017}}</ref> In 2014,<ref name="Time">{{cite magazine |last1=Frizell |first1=Sam |title=So Long, Charging Cables: Wireless Power Is Coming |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=June 4, 2014 |url=https://time.com/2819660/witricity-wireless-power/ |access-date=February 26, 2021}}</ref> WiTricity joined the [[Alliance for Wireless Power]] (A4WP), which later merged with the [[Power Matters Alliance]] to form the AirFuel Alliance.<ref name=Engel/> Alex Gruzen replaced Eric Giler as [[chief executive officer]] (CEO) in 2014.<ref name="Lai">{{cite news |last1=Lai |first1=R. |title=Intel's cable-free future will use WiTricity's advanced wireless charging |url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-06-11-witricity-intel-wireless-charging.html |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=[[Engadget]] |date=June 11, 2014}}</ref><ref name="Clean">{{cite news |last1=Hanley |first1=Steve |title=A Conversation With WiTricity CEO Alex Gruzen — #CleanTechnica Exclusive |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/17/a-conversation-with-witricity-ceo-alex-gruzen-cleantechnica-exclusive/ |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=[[CleanTechnica]] |date=February 17, 2019}}</ref> Morris Kesler serves as [[chief technology officer]] (CTO).<ref>{{cite news |title=A Future of Gadgets without Power Cords? Not So Fast |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/07/21/538531750/a-future-of-gadgets-without-power-cords-not-so-fast |access-date=March 11, 2021 |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=July 21, 2017 |via=[[WBUR-FM]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mearian |first1=Lucas |title=Wireless charging explained: What is it and how does it work? |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/3235176/wireless-charging-explained-what-is-it-and-how-does-it-work.html |access-date=March 11, 2021 |work=[[Computerworld]] |date=March 28, 2018}}</ref> The company is a member of the [[Wireless Power Consortium]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wirelesspowerconsortium.com/members/|title=Members List|publisher=[[Wireless Power Consortium]]}}</ref>


In 2017, WiTricity began focusing on charging systems for [[electric vehicle]]s more than consumer technology products.<ref name=FC/> By 2018, WiTricity had partnered with more than a dozen automotive companies, including nine of the world's largest ten, on [[research and development]] projects.<ref name="Woyke">{{cite news |last1=Woyke |first1=Elizabeth |title=Future robo-taxis could charge themselves and help balance the electric grid |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2018/09/18/140139/future-robo-taxis-could-charge-themselves-and-help-balance-the-electric-grid/ |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=[[MIT Technology Review]] |date=September 18, 2018}}</ref> [[Audi]], [[Mahle GmbH]], and [[Mitsubishi]] were among the partnering companies.<ref name=Clean/><ref name="Motavalli">{{cite news |last1=Motavalli |first1=Jim |title=WiTricity Takes Its Car-Charging Technology Out for a Road Test |url=https://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/witricity-takes-its-car-charging-technology-out-for-a-road-test/ |access-date=February 26, 2021 |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=July 25, 2012}}</ref>
== History ==


In 2018, WiTricity was named a New Energy Pioneer by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Delony |first1=Jennifer |title=Wireless Charging Seen as a Game Changer for EV Infrastructure |url=https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/storage/wireless-charging-seen-as-a-game-changer-for-ev-infrastructure/ |website=[[Renewable Energy World]] |publisher=[[PennWell]] |access-date=March 30, 2021 |date=April 12, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Ten Winners of The New Energy Pioneers Unveiled at Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in New York City |url=https://about.bnef.com/blog/ten-winners-new-energy-pioneers-unveiled-bloomberg-new-energy-finance-summit-new-york-city/ |publisher=Bloomberg New Energy Finance |access-date=March 30, 2021 |date=April 9, 2018}}</ref> The company acquired the assets and [[intellectual property]] rights of [[Qualcomm]] Halo and its [[inductive charging]] technology in February 2019; the deal included more than 1,000 [[patent]]s and [[patent application]]s,<ref name="Freeman">{{cite news |last1=Freeman |first1=Mike |title=WiTricity acquires assets of Qualcomm wireless electric vehicle charging group |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/sd-fi-qualcomm-halo-witricity-20190212-story.html |access-date=February 26, 2021 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=February 12, 2019}}</ref> as well as technology designs and licenses, and made Qualcomm a minority owner of WiTricity.<ref name=Clean/><ref name=AN/> In late 2020, MIT and WiTricity filed an [[patent infringement|infringement]] lawsuit against the Pennsylvania-based company Momentum Dynamics over seven wireless energy transfer patents.<ref name="Maffei">{{cite journal |last1=Maffei |first1=Lucia |title=MIT, WiTricity file patent suit against Pa. tech company |journal=[[Boston Business Journal]] |date=December 10, 2020 |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2020/12/10/mit-witricity-sue-pennsylvania-tech-company.html |access-date=February 25, 2021 |publisher=[[American City Business Journals]]}}</ref> The lawsuit resulted in the invalidation of six of the asserted patents, and WiTricity filed a second infringement suit in March 2023.<ref name="businesswire-lawsuit-update">{{cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230329005281/en/InductEV-Successfully-Defends-Mission-Critical-Patents|title=InductEV Successfully Defends Mission-Critical Patents}}</ref>
The term WiTricity was used for a project that took place at [[MIT]], led by [[Marin Soljačić]] in 2006.<ref name="MIT theory news">{{cite web|url= http://news.mit.edu/2006/wireless|author=Davide Castelvecchi|title=Wireless electricity could power consumer, industrial electronics|work=[[MIT News]]|date=2006-11-14}}</ref><ref name="MIT experiment news">{{cite web|url= http://news.mit.edu/2007/wireless-0607|author=Franklin Hadley|title=Goodbye wires!|work=[[MIT News]]|date=2007-06-07}}</ref> The MIT researchers successfully demonstrated the ability to power a 60 [[watt]] light bulb wirelessly, using two 5-turn copper coils of 60&nbsp;cm (24&nbsp;in) [[diameter]], that were 2&nbsp;m (7&nbsp;ft) away, at roughly 45% efficiency.<ref>{{cite thesis|last=Kurs |first=André |via=MIT Libraries {{!}} DSpace@MIT |title=Power transfer through strongly coupled resonances |publisher=[[MIT]] |hdl=1721.1/45429 |year=2007 |type=M. S. thesis}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://thefutureofthings.com/pod/250/wireless-power-demonstrated.html|title=Wireless Power Demonstrated|first=Iddo |last=Genuth|work=The Future of Things|accessdate=2008-12-09|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081231103130/http://thefutureofthings.com/pod/250/wireless-power-demonstrated.html|archivedate=2008-12-31|date=2007-05-03}}</ref> The coils were designed to resonate together at 9.9 [[megahertz|MHz]] (wavelength ≈ 30 m) and were oriented along the same axis. One was connected inductively to a power source, and the other one to a bulb. The setup powered the bulb on, even when the direct line of sight was blocked using a wooden panel. Researchers were able to power a 60 [[watt]] light bulb at roughly 90% efficiency at a distance of 3 feet. The research project was spun off into a private company, also called WiTricity.


===Funding===
The [[emerging technology]] was demonstrated in July 2009 by CEO Eric Giler at the [[TED Global Conference]] held in [[Oxford]].<ref>{{cite news | first=Jonathan | last=Fildes |authorlink= | title= Wireless power system shown off | date=2009-07-23 | publisher= | url =http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8165928.stm | work =[[BBC News Online]] | pages = | accessdate = 2009-09-13 | language = }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity.html |title=Eric Giler demos wireless electricity |accessdate=2009-09-13 |date=July 2009 |publisher=[[TED (conference)|TED]]}}</ref> There he refers to the original idea, first applied by the physicist [[Nikola Tesla]] between his coils,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity#t-15992 | title=A demo of wireless electricity}}</ref> and shows a WiTricity power unit powering a television as well as three different cell phones, the initial problem that inspired Soljacic to get involved with the project. It is however now being pointed out that the entire device was not being "powered wirelessly" as claimed or implied by Giler at 8 minutes and 50 seconds into the video. It is clear that only the charging icon appears, which typically only means the battery had started charging (at an unknown rate).
Prior to Toyota's investment in 2011, WiTricity had raised approximately $15 million.<ref name="Boston">{{cite news |last1=Kirsner |first1=Scott |title=Toyota makes multi-million-dollar investment in WiTricity Corp., developer of wireless car-charging technology |url=http://archive.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2011/04/toyota_announces_collaboration.html |access-date=February 26, 2021 |work=[[Boston.com]] |date=April 27, 2011}}</ref> By April 2013, WiTricity had received approximately $45 million in funding.<ref name=Inc/> After additional funding rounds in 2015 and 2018, the company had raised $68 million.<ref name=FC/> WiTricity had raised approximately $88 million in venture capital by early 2019.<ref name=Freeman/> Funders have included [[Delta Electronics]], [[Foxconn]], [[Haier]], [[Intel]], [[Schlumberger]], and [[Toyota]].<ref name=Freeman/><ref name="VB">{{cite news |last1=Sawers |first1=Paul |title=WiTricity acquires Qualcomm Halo to accelerate wireless charging for electric vehicles |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/02/11/witricity-acquires-qualcomm-halo-to-accelerate-wireless-charging-for-electric-vehicles/ |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=[[VentureBeat]] |date=February 11, 2019}}</ref>
WiTricity technology licensing agreements both in EV charging and consumer devices were announced over the course of several years with companies such as [[Toyota]], [[Aptiv]] (formerly Delphi), [[Mahle GmbH|Mahle]], [[TDK]], [[IHI Corporation]], [[Shindengen Electric Manufacturing|Shindengen]], Daihen, BRUSA, and Anjie Wireless. Global corporate investors have included Toyota, Intel Capital, Delta Electronics Capital, Foxconn, Haier, and Schlumberger. Despite the huge investments for consumer devices and electric vehicles (EVs), the only consumer product ever released using WiTricity technology was the ill-fated 2-in-1 (tablet with detachable keyboard), the Dell Latitude 7285 in 2017.<ref name="witricity1">{{cite press release|url=https://witricity.com/availability-announced-witricity-technology-enabled-dell-latitude/|title=Availability Announced for WiTricity Technology-Enabled Dell Latitude|publisher= Witricity|date=2017-07-11 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> In EV charging, the only outcome was a leased version of the BMW530e, offering only 3.2 kW delivered wirelessly over 8 cm at 85% efficiency<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|author=Andrew Krok |url=https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/news/bmw-2019-5-series-phev-wireless-charging-pilot-california/ |title=BMW launches 2019 5 Series plug-in hybrid wireless charging pilot in California - Roadshow |work=CNET.com |date= |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. This efficiency translates to almost half a kiloWatt of heat generated in the enclosed garage while charging. Interested users in USA are selected only from California, up to a maximum of 200 approved "testers" only, and only after passing an inspection of their homes and garage, which had to be enclosed<ref>[https://www.qmerit.com/news/be-one-of-200-bmw-customers-chosen-for-the-530e-wireless-charging-pilot-program]</ref>.


In 2020, WiTricity completed a $34 million round led by Stage 1 Ventures with additional participation by Air Waves Wireless Electricity and Mitsubishi subsidiary Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).<ref name=Kane>{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Mark |title=WiTricity Raises $34 Million To Expand Wireless EV Charging |url=https://insideevs.com/news/451868/witricity-raises-34-million-wireless-ev-charging/ |website=InsideEVs |publisher=[[Motorsport Network]] |access-date=March 30, 2021 |date=November 4, 2020}}</ref> The round was extended for an additional $18 million raised in January 2021; [[Tony Fadell]] was among the private investors and joined WiTricity's advisory board.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Walrath |first1=Rowan |title=VC funding update: Boston startups and tech firms raised $2.3B in February |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/inno/stories/roundups/2021/03/02/vc-funding-boston-startups-tech-february-2021.html |access-date=April 2, 2021 |work=BostInno |publisher=The Business Journals |date=March 2, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/03/01/the-station-lucid-motors-joby-aviation-take-the-spac-path-and-sergey-brins-airship-ambitions/ |title=The Station: Lucid Motors, Joby Aviation take the SPAC path and Sergey Brin's airship ambitions |date=March 1, 2021 |first=Kirsten |last=Korosec |accessdate=April 2, 2021 |work=TechCrunch}}</ref>
A huge investment into WiTricity, for EV charging was made by [[Toyota]] back in 2011<ref name=toyota-2011>{{cite news|last=Gordon-Bloomfield|first=Nikki|title=Toyota Joins Wireless Electric Car Charging Revolution|url=http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1059122_toyota-joins-wireless-electric-car-charging-revolution|accessdate=24 April 2012|newspaper=Green Car Reports|date=Apr 28, 2011}}</ref><ref name=toyota-website>{{cite web|title=TMC and WiTricity Form Wireless Battery-charging Alliance|url=http://www2.toyota.co.jp/en/news/11/04/0427_2.html|publisher=Toyota Motor Corporation|date=April 27, 2011|accessdate=24 April 2012}}</ref>. Prior to that, in 2010, Delphi had already announced they too were partnering with WiTricity for EV charging<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101007232754/http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/09/delphi-20100930.html]</ref> <ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/business/technology/innoeco/2011/04/toyota_announces_collaboration.html |title=Toyota makes multi-million-dollar investment in WiTricity Corp., developer of wireless car-charging technology - Innovation Economy - Boston.com |publisher=Archive.boston.com |date=2011-04-27 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. Intel abandoned all efforts in bringing wireless charging to laptops back in 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliseackerman/2016/06/06/intel-ceases-work-on-wireless-charging/#ee2d571248ac |title=Intel Ceases Work On Wireless Charging |publisher=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. Dell, one of the first partners of WiTricity, along with Foxconn, Haier, Delta and Schlumberger all effectively did the same by the end of 2017, after the solitary release of the Dell Latitude 7285 mentioned above. And neither [[Toyota]] or [[Aptiv]] (formerly Delphi), have had any visible success with EV charging, despite Toyota indicating EV wireless charging was coming soon back in 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5QdBfVdaQ |title=Toyota Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging System |publisher=YouTube |date=2014-02-16 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. The key competitor of WiTricity in EV charging, Qualcomm-Halo, had been announcing for long that their technology would be available in 2018 in the Mercedes S550e<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/news/onq/2016/10/11/2018-mercedes-benz-s550e-will-offer-wireless-ev-charging-technology-built-using |title=2018 Mercedes-Benz S550e will offer wireless EV charging technology built using Qualcomm Halo breakthroughs |publisher=Qualcomm |date= 2016-12-15|accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jonathan M. Gitlin|url=https://arstechnica.com/cars/2016/10/mercedes-benz-debuts-qualcomms-wireless-charging-for-the-hybrid-s-class/ |title=Mercedes-Benz debuts Qualcomm's wireless charging for the hybrid S Class |work=Ars Technica |date=2016-10-11 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>, but instead, in early 2019, Qualcomm-Halo sold its entire patent EV charging portfolio to WiTricity and effectively exited the business<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://witricity.com/witricity-acquires-qualcomm-halo/ |title=WiTricity Acquires Qualcomm Halo |publisher=Witricity |date=2019-02-11 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. To observers, the pattern was noticeably similar to the fate of [[Rezence (wireless charging standard)]] which was also started by Qualcomm, but they had by all accounts lost interest along the way, with no product to show, and WiTricity had rushed in to push the standard along till 2017, after which they focused on EV charging instead.


In August 2022, WiTricity completed another round of funding raising $63 million.<ref name=axios>{{cite web |url=https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2022/08/09/ev-charging-startup-witricity-raises-63m-siemens |title=EV charging startup WiTricity raises $63M |date=August 9, 2022 |website=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |first=Megan |last=Hernbroth |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812080926/https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2022/08/09/ev-charging-startup-witricity-raises-63m-siemens |archive-date=August 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> The round was led by [[Siemens]] which invested $25 million and acquired a minority stake in the company earlier in June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bates |first1=Michael |title=Siemens Acquires Stake in WiTricity to Drive EV Wireless Charging Innovation |url=https://ngtnews.com/siemens-acquires-stake-in-witricity-to-drive-ev-wireless-charging-innovation |website=NGT News: Next-Gen Transportation |access-date=June 9, 2022 |date=June 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-28/volkswagen-nears-10-stake-sale-in-electrify-america-to-siemens |title=Volkswagen Sells Siemens Minority Stake in Electrify America |date=June 28, 2022 |website=[[Bloomberg News]] |first1=Gabrielle |last1=Coppola |first2=Monica |last2=Raymunt |first3=Wilfried |last3=Eckl-Dorna |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220816035815/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-06-28/volkswagen-nears-10-stake-sale-in-electrify-america-to-siemens |archive-date=August 16, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Mirae Asset Financial Group|Mirae Asset Capital]] and Japan Energy Fund joined the round along with few other returning investors.<ref name=axios />
In late 2012, the company announced it would make a $1000 demonstration kit available to interested parties, to promote development of commercial applications.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://witricity.com/witricity-kit-helps-engineers-develop-wireless-power-charging|title=WiTricity kit helps engineers develop wireless power charging}}</ref> The kit was intended to demonstrate the principle of "coupled resonators" to promote their foray into consumer appliances based on the now-defunct [[Rezence (wireless charging standard)|Rezence standard]], and delivered barely 100 milliWatts at 250 kHz<ref>{{cite web|author=Post |url=https://www.slideshare.net/SanjayaManiktala/missing-witricity-prodigy-kit-manual |title=Missing WiTricity Prodigy Kit Manual |publisher=Slideshare.net |date= 2019-10-07|accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>.
In 2014, WiTricity said it already had a demonstration kit providing 3.3 kW, and their CEO Alex Gruzen said they were well on their way to creating a 6.6 kW kit<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140919055555/http://www.greencarcongress.com/2014/09/20140902-witricity.html]</ref>. The datasheet<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.terraelectronica.ru/pdf/show?pdf_file=%252Fpdf%252FWITRCITY%252FWiT-3300DS.pdf |title=Datasheet|publisher=Terraelectronica.ru |date= |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> for the 3.3 kW kit from 2014, claims a distance of 12-15 cm, and a "coil to coil" efficiency of "up to 97%." It needs to be clarified that the definition of efficiency used by the MIT researchers was different from the usual definition based on input and output power, and so when they say "97%," the actual efficiency number could be significantly off. MIT researchers were only referring to the energy estimated lost between the coils, which loss is actually considered negligible in all near-field inductive or resonant methods as opposed to radio-frequency based systems. This correction is further supported by the actual specifications of the 2018 leased version of the BMW530e based on WiTricity technology, which offers only 85% efficiency, over just 8 cm, as mentioned elsewhere on this page.


==Technology==
By February 2014, WiTricity abandoned their original approach for consumer devices, based on 9.9MHz, which was the frequency originally used by the MIT researchers, which unfortunately stood absolutely no chance of ever getting regulatory approvals. They then joined the Alliance for Wireless Power, also known as A4WP or [[WiPower]], to support the [[Rezence (wireless charging standard)|Rezence]] standard which was operating at the more reasonable and recognized [[ISM band]] frequency of 6.78MHz.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://witricity.com/witricity-joins-the-alliance-for-wireless-power-a4wp-to-commercialize-resonant-wireless-power/ |title=WiTricity Joins the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP) to Commercialize Resonant Wireless Power |publisher=Witricity |date=2014-02-11 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> Alex Gruzen was hired as CEO of WiTricity in April 2014. Till June 2010, he had served as Senior Vice President, Consumer Product Group at Dell, in which position he had been responsible for Dell's consumer desktop and notebook lines of business.<ref>{{cite web|author=Alex Gruzen |url=https://www.dell.com/community/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/34 |title=About Alex Gruzen - Dell Community |publisher=Dell.com |date=2006-08-14 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. Alex got Witricity a design win at Dell, as announced in January 2017, at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.<ref>https://www.barrons.com/articles/witricity-energous-were-shipping-deal-with-it-say-wireless-power-pioneers-1505418421</ref> On closer examination, the Dell Latitude 7285, was not a usual laptop <ref name="witricity1"/>, but a 2-in-1—a tablet with a detachable keyboard, at an add-on cost of $549.99 for the Rezence-based wireless charging option. <ref>{{cite web|author=Chris Morley |url=https://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/press-releases/2017-07-11-dell-new-lineup-of-latitude-2-in-1s |title=New Latitude 2-in-1s Arrive to Help Drive Further Growth in 2-in-1 Market |publisher=Dell |date= |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> It was labeled a "hack" by [[The Verge]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Liao |first=Shannon |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/11/15955350/dell-latitude-7000-price-availability-wireless-charging |title=Dell is selling the world's first wirelessly charging laptop for $1,750 |publisher=The Verge |date=2017-07-11 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>
WiTricity's technology allows wireless power transfer over distance via [[magnetic resonance]].<ref name=Inc/> [[Alternating current]] (AC) [[electricity]] runs through an [[electromagnetic coil]] within a [[charging station]] to form an oscillating [[electromagnetic field]].<ref name="Talbot">{{cite news |last1=Talbot |first1=David |title=Wireless Charging Is Actually Charging Ahead |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/05/13/108534/wireless-charging-is-actually-charging-ahead/ |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=MIT Technology Review |date=May 13, 2016}}</ref> Another coil resonating at the same frequency captures the field's energy and a rectifier delivers [[direct current]] (DC) current to a battery management system.<ref name=Engel/> The technology works through various materials, such as stone, cement, asphalt or wood, and has an [[energy conversion efficiency]] end-to-end above 90 percent, equivalent to plugging in.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022|reason=Wireless charging as efficient as wired charging sounds far fetched}} By 2013–2014, [[electric power]] output had reached 10 [[Watt|W]] for [[mobile device]]s, 6 [[Watt#Kilowatt|kW]] for passenger vehicles, and 25&nbsp;kW for fleets and buses.<ref name=Lai/><ref name="Mearian">{{cite journal |last1=Mearian |first1=Lucas |title=Toyota signs wireless charging deal with WiTricity |journal=Computerworld |date=December 5, 2013 |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2486514/toyota-signs-wireless-charging-deal-with-witricity.html |access-date=February 26, 2021 |archive-date=November 30, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130143535/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2486514/toyota-signs-wireless-charging-deal-with-witricity.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> WiTricity's EV has charging rates from 3.6 to 11&nbsp;kW, and the technology scales up to hundreds of kilowatts for heavy duty vehicles such as buses.<ref name=VIE>{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Mark |title=Zhejiang VIE to Use WiTricity Wireless Charging in China |url=https://insideevs.com/news/343500/zhejiang-vie-to-use-witricity-wireless-charging-in-china/ |website=InsideEVs |access-date=April 2, 2021 |date=March 29, 2019}}</ref>


===Uses===
The Rezence standard was already considered imperiled when Intel abruptly abandoned it in June 2016<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/eliseackerman/2016/06/06/intel-ceases-work-on-wireless-charging/#eebd470248ac |title=Intel Ceases Work On Wireless Charging |publisher=Forbes.com |date= |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>, despite having invested heavily in WiTricity. <ref>{{cite web|author=Curt Woodward |url=https://xconomy.com/boston/2013/10/23/witricitys-wireless-power-tech-attracts-25m-intel-foxconn/ |title=WiTricity's Wireless-Power Tech Attracts $25M from Intel, Foxconn |publisher=Xconomy |date=2013-10-23 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> The Dell Latitude 7285 was by all accounts a flop, and Alex Gruzen decided to take WiTricity out of the competition for powering consumer electronics, and focus on wireless power for electric vehicles, which had they had in fact been pursuing too, since 2007. The company has reportedly collaborated with car makers [[Audi]], [[BMW]], [[Chrysler]], [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]], [[Nissan]], and [[Toyota]]. In 2017, despite having raised $68 million to support both consumer appliances and EV charging, the company ordered layoffs, reducing its workforce from 80 to 55 and closing an office in [[Austin, Texas]], all in an effort to reposition WiTricity to address the market opportunity around electric vehicles and directly contend with its biggest EV competitor, [[Qualcomm]] Halo.
WiTricity has reached licensing deals with Anjie Wireless,<ref>{{cite web |last1=McMahan |first1=Scott |title=WiTricity and Qualcomm Partner on Halo Wireless EV Charging |url=https://eepower.com/news/witricity-acquires-wireless-charging-technologies-from-qualcomm-qualcomm-becomes-minority-shareholder/# |website=EE Power |access-date=April 16, 2021 |date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> [[Delphi Technologies|Delphi]] ([[Aptiv]]), Intel,<ref name=Lai/><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mearian |first1=Lucas |title=Intel plans to team up with WiTricity on wireless charging |journal=Computerworld |date=June 11, 2014 |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2490536/intel-plans-to-team-up-with-witricity-on-wireless-charging.html |access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref> Mahle, [[TDK]], Toyota,<ref name=Engel/><ref name=Freeman/> and Zhejiang VIE.<ref name=VIE/> [[Thoratec]] licensed the technology to produce heart pumps capable of charging automatically.<ref name=Time/> WiTricity has demonstrated wireless charging for consumer products such as [[laptop]]s, [[mobile phone]]s, [[television]]s,<ref name="CNN">{{cite news |last1=Glass |first1=Nick |last2=Ponsford |first2=Matthew |title=Wireless electricity? It's here |url=https://www.cnn.com/2014/03/14/tech/innovation/wireless-electricity |access-date=February 26, 2021 |publisher=[[CNN]] |date=March 28, 2014}}</ref> and [[solar panel]] receivers.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Mearian |first1=Lucas |title=Power play: Wireless charging at a distance arrives |journal=Computerworld |date=October 13, 2021 |url=https://www.computerworld.com/article/2492949/power-play--wireless-charging-at-a-distance-arrives.html |access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref> The company has also shown how the technology can be used to power soldiers' helmets with [[Night-vision device|night-vision]] goggles wirelessly during [[Humvee]] transportation.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Low |first1=Aloysius |title=Dell laptops coming soon with WiTricity wireless charging |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/dell-laptops-coming-soon-with-witricity-wireless-charging/ |access-date=March 12, 2021 |work=[[CNET]] |publisher=[[Red Ventures]] |date=June 2, 2016}}</ref> [[Dell]]'s 2017 launch of the [[Laptop-tablet convergence|laptop-tablet]] Latitude 7285 marked the first commercial consumer product to use the technology.<ref name=Engel/>


In 2018, [[BMW]]'s [[BMW 530e iPerformance|530e iPerformance]] became the first vehicle factory equipped with [[wireless vehicle charging|wireless charging]],<ref name="AN">{{cite news |last1=Szatkowski |first1=Danielle |title=WiTricity acquires Qualcomm's EV charging unit |url=https://www.autonews.com/suppliers/witricity-acquires-qualcomms-ev-charging-unit |access-date=February 25, 2021 |work=[[Automotive News]] |date=February 11, 2019}}</ref> and [[Hyundai Motor Company|Hyundai]]'s [[Hyundai Kona|Kona]] also demonstrated use of the technology.<ref name=Woyke/> In January 2019, [[Honda]] and WiTricity demonstrated wireless vehicle-to-grid charging at the [[Consumer Electronics Show]].<ref name=AN/> The technology was also being used for the [[McLaren Speedtail]] Hyper-GT by 2020.<ref name=Kane/><ref name="Phelan">{{cite news |last1=Phelan |first1=Mark |title=This new feature is about to make electric cars way easier to use |url=https://www.freep.com/story/money/cars/mark-phelan/2020/11/28/electric-cars-wireless-charging-pads/6428778002/ |access-date=March 30, 2021 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |date=November 28, 2020}}</ref> In May 2020, China published their national standard for EV wireless charging which incorporated WiTricity's technology,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Dasgupta |first1=Sabyasachi |title=Wireless charging for electric vehicles could soon be a reality |url=https://auto.hindustantimes.com/auto/news/wireless-charging-for-electric-vehicles-could-soon-be-a-reality-41589172528134.html |access-date=March 11, 2021 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=May 11, 2020}}</ref><ref name="Wood">{{cite news |last1=Wood |first1=Charlie |title=Researchers work on the next generation of wireless charging for electric vehicles and mobile devices |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/08/researchers-work-on-the-next-generation-of-wireless-charging-for-evs.html |access-date=February 26, 2021 |publisher=[[CNBC]] |date=June 8, 2020}}</ref> and WiTricity played a key role in establishing [[SAE International]]'s J2954 standard for wireless power transfer.<ref name=Phelan/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Hanley |first1=Steve |title=SAE Publishes New Wireless Charging Standard |url=https://cleantechnica.com/2020/11/05/sae-publishes-new-wireless-charging-standard/ |website=CleanTechnica |access-date=March 30, 2021 |date=November 5, 2020}}</ref>
After years of R&D, patent design and licensing with global automakers, 2018 saw the first EV with WiTricity’s technology hit the streets – the [[BMW 530e iPerformance]] sedan, equipped with the first-ever wireless charging system<ref>
{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2018/07/09/with-bmw-adopting-tech-witricity-sees-bet-on.html |title=BMW adopting tech |date=July 9, 2018 |website=www.bizjournals.com |access-date=2019-10-13}}</ref>. This delivered 3.2 kilowatts across 8 cm<ref name="autogenerated1"/>, with an efficiency of 85%, which indicates almost half a kilowatt of heat generated within the garage while charging. Building on this achievement, WiTricity was named a 2018 New Energy Pioneer by Bloomberg New Energy Finance<ref>{{cite web|url=https://about.bnef.com/blog/ten-winners-new-energy-pioneers-unveiled-bloomberg-new-energy-finance-summit-new-york-city/ |title=Ten Winners of The New Energy Pioneers Unveiled at Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in New York City &#124; BloombergNEF |publisher=About.bnef.com |date=2018-04-09 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> and signed several new licensing deals including MAHLE in Germany<ref>{{cite web|author=Steve Hanley|url=https://cleantechnica.com/2019/02/07/mahle-agrees-to-license-wireless-charging-from-witricitiy/|title=MAHLE Agrees To License Wireless Charging From WiTricity|work= CleanTechnica|date=2019-02-07|accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> and Anjie Wireless in China<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://witricity.com/anjie-wireless-licenses-witricity-technology-china-electric-vehicle-market/|title=Anjie Wireless Licenses WiTricity Technology for China Electric Vehicle Market|publisher=Witricity|date=2018-10-16|accessdate=2019-10-19}}</ref>. However, despite the reported press release from WiTricity, there is no independent confirmation from Anjie Wireless<ref>http://www.anjiewl.com/en/xinwenzhongxin/</ref>.


In 2022, WiTricity received a $50,000 grant from the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform and the State of Michigan to install a wireless charging station at the Detroit Smart Parking Lab, operated by the [[American Center for Mobility]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Fine |first1=Ariana |title=WiTricity Wins EV Wireless Charging Grant for Detroit Smart Parking Lab |url=https://ngtnews.com/witricity-wins-grant-for-ev-wireless-charging-deployment-at-detroit-smart-parking-lab |website=Next-Gen Transportation |date=18 March 2022 |access-date=June 14, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Stone |first1=Tom |title=State of Michigan announces grants to create a more accessible and electrified mobility future |url=https://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news/electric-vehicles-ev-infrastructure/state-of-michigan-announces-grants-to-create-a-more-accessible-and-electrified-mobility-future.html |website=Traffic Technology Today |access-date=June 14, 2022 |date=March 20, 2022}}</ref>
The BMW530e wireless charging option was made available in USA in mid-2019, but on a very limited trial basis only. It was available under lease, only in California, and only for a maximum of 200 approved "testers" in USA. It was not for sale<ref name="autogenerated1"/>. Further, a third-party contractor Qmerit would need to first inspect the applicant's home before approving the lease under a pilot program<ref>https://www.qmerit.com/bmwwireless</ref>. It has also been reported that in fact only 9 cars have been equipped with this wireless charging feature, under the pilot program in USA<ref>https://www.mckennabmw.com/introducing-the-new-530e-wireless-charging-pilot-in-norwalk-ca.htm</ref>.


The 2022 [[Hyundai Motor Group|Hyundai]] [[Genesis GV60]] uses wireless charging hardware by WiTricity.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reyes |first1=Alvin |title=2022 Genesis GV60 Could Be The First EV To Have Wireless Inductive Charging |url=https://www.slashgear.com/2022-genesis-gv60-could-be-the-first-ev-to-have-wireless-inductive-charging-24688155 |website=Slash Gear |date=24 August 2021 |access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramsey |first1=Jonathon |title=Genesis GV60 to gain wireless charging capability |url=https://www.autoblog.com/2021/08/25/genesis-gv60-crossover-ev-wireless-charging/ |website=Autoblog |access-date=June 9, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kane |first1=Mark |title=Genesis GV60 Gets Factory-Installed Wireless Charging Option |url=https://insideevs.com/news/538850/genesis-gv60-wireless-charging-option/ |website=InsideEVs |access-date=June 9, 2022 |date=October 6, 2021}}</ref>
In 2019, Honda partnered with WiTricity to demonstrate their wireless vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging model at CES 2019 in Las Vegas, leveraging WiTricity’s DRIVE 11 wireless charging system.<ref>https://electriccarsreport.com/2018/12/honda-to-debut-wireless-v2g-system-at-ces-2019/</ref>


In 2022, WiTricity licensed its technology with Wiferion, which develops wireless charging systems for industrial applications such as [[automated guided vehicles]], [[cobot]]s, and trucks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Wiferion Enters into License Agreement with WiTricity for Industrial Wireless Charging Applications |url=https://www.microwavejournal.com/articles/38604-wiferion-enters-into-license-agreement-with-witricity-for-industrial-wireless-charging-applications |website=[[Microwave Journal]] |access-date=July 28, 2022 |date=July 26, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Global license agreement for Wiferion |url=https://www.hsssearch.co.uk/Global-license-agreement-for-Wiferion |website=Handling and Storage Solutions |access-date=July 28, 2022 |date=July 26, 2022}}</ref>
In February 2019, announced the acquisition from Qualcomm Incorporated and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. of certain technology platform and IP assets, which will bring over 1,500 patents and patent applications related to wireless charging that WiTricity will own or control. Prior to the acquisition, Qualcomm Incorporated and WiTricity had been working collaboratively with global standards organizations, which currently leverage reference designs from each company. This acquisition will simplify ratification of the standard and help ensure interoperability across automakers.&nbsp;EV drivers will be able to use any standards-compatible wireless charging pad to power their vehicles.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190211005215/en/WiTricity-Acquires-Qualcomm-Halo|title=WiTricity Acquires Qualcomm Halo|date=2019-02-11|website=www.businesswire.com|language=en|access-date=2019-02-11}}</ref>

The EV charging portfolio sold off by Qualcomm in 2019, originally came from their 2011 acquisition of a New Zealand spin-out of the University of Auckland called HaloIPT<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.qualcomm.com/news/releases/2011/11/08/qualcomm-acquires-haloipt-team-and-its-wireless-electric-vehicle-charging |title=Qualcomm Acquires HaloIPT Team and its Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging Technology |publisher=Qualcomm.com |date= 2011-11-08|accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>. It is the same place from where the spin-out called PowerbyProxi later emerged, acquired by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] in 2017, to supposedly create the now-canceled [[AirPower (hardware)|AirPower]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.innovation.auckland.ac.nz/timeline/ |title=Innovation Timeline |publisher=Innovation.auckland.ac.nz |date=2014-08-18 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref> <ref>{{cite web|last=Statt |first=Nick |url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/10/24/16539604/apple-powerbyproxi-acquisition-wireless-charging-iphone-accessories |title=Apple buys New Zealand-based wireless charging company PowerbyProxi |publisher=The Verge |date=2017-10-24 |accessdate=2019-10-13}}</ref>

By May 2020, WiTricity was announcing UL certification for Tier 1 licensees such as the Lumen Group<ref>{{cite web|url=https://witricity.com/witricity-licensee-lumen-freedom-first-tier-1-auto-supplier-receive-ul-certification-ev-wireless-charging-system/|title=WiTricity licensee, Lumen Freedom, is first Tier 1 auto supplier to receive UL Certification for EV wireless charging system |publisher=Witricity.com |date= 2020-21-05|accessdate=2020-10-20}}</ref>. Despite the successes, privately, WiTricity applied for, and received, in May 2020, a COVID-19 forgivable Paycheck Protection Program loan of up to $2 million US dollars, claiming it was thereby saving 42 jobs<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/projects/ppp-business-loans/businesses/witricity-corporation</ref>.

==See also==
* [[Electrosmog]]
* [[Evanescent wave coupling]]
* [[List of emerging technologies]]
* [[Nikola Tesla]]
* [[Qi (inductive power standard)]] -another standard for wireless energy transfers
* [[Resonant inductive coupling|Resonant energy transfer]]
* [[WREL (technology)|WREL technology]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==Reference articles==
==Further reading==
*{{cite news |last1=Matheson |first1=Rob |title=WiTricity's wireless charging technology is coming soon to mobile devices, electric cars, and more |url=https://phys.org/news/2014-07-witricity-wireless-technology-mobile-devices.html |work=[[Phys.org]] |date=July 10, 2014}}
* {{Cite journal
*{{cite news |url=https://news.mit.edu/2014/world-wireless-power-witricity-1028 |title=A world of wireless power |first=Eric |last=Bender |work=MIT News |publisher=[[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]}}
| author = Andre Kurs
*{{cite journal |title=A Witricity-Based High-Power Device for Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicles |journal=[[Energies (journal)|Energies]] |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314301410 |date=March 2017 |volume=10 |issue=3 |page=323|doi=10.3390/en10030323 |doi-access=free |last1=Dai |first1=Zhongyu |last2=Wang |first2=Junhua |last3=Long |first3=Mengjiao |last4=Huang |first4=Hong }}
| author2 = Aristeidis Karalis| author3= Robert Moffatt| author4= J.D. Joannopoulos| author5= Peter Fisher| author6= Marin Soljačić
*{{cite journal |title=Witricity Leverages Magnetic Resonance for Flexible Wireless Charging |journal=[[IEEE Spectrum]] |url=https://spectrum.ieee.org/witricity-leverages-magnetic-resonance-for-flexible-wireless-charging}}
| title = Wireless power transfer via strongly coupled magnetic resonances
| journal = Science
| doi = 10.1126/science.1143254
|date=July 2007
| volume = 317
| pages = 83–86
| pmid = 17556549
| quote = Published online: June 2007
| issue = 5834
| bibcode=2007Sci...317...83K
| citeseerx = 10.1.1.418.9645| s2cid = 17105396}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Official website|https://witricity.com}}
*{{Cite news | url = http://www.ted.com/talks/eric_giler_demos_wireless_electricity.html | title = Eric Giler demos wireless electricity | publisher = [[TED (conference)|TED]]}}
*{{Cite news | url = http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/data/1143254/DC1/1 | title = Supporting Online Material for Wireless Power Transfer via Strongly Coupled Magnetic Resonances | publisher = Science Magazine }}
*{{Cite news | url = http://thefutureofthings.com/news/5763/intel-s-wireless-power-technology-demonstrated.html | title = Intel's Wireless Power Technology Demonstrated | author = Anuradha Menon | publisher = [[The Future of Things]] e-magazine | date = 2008-11-14 | url-status = dead | archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20101209070825/http://thefutureofthings.com/news/5763/intel-s-wireless-power-technology-demonstrated.html | archivedate = 2010-12-09 }}


{{Portal bar|Companies|Energy|Technology}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Witricity}}

[[Category:Energy development]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:WiTricity}}
[[Category:American companies established in 2007]]
[[Category:Companies based in Watertown, Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Electric power distribution]]
[[Category:Electric power distribution]]
[[Category:Energy development]]
[[Category:Technology companies based in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Wireless energy transfer]]
[[Category:Wireless energy transfer]]

Latest revision as of 18:31, 4 December 2024

WiTricity Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustryWireless power transfer
Founded2007; 17 years ago (2007)
FounderMarin Soljačić
Headquarters
Watertown, Massachusetts
,
United States
Key people
  • Joe Benz (CEO)
  • Morris Kesler (CTO)
Websitewitricity.com

WiTricity Corporation is an American wireless charging technology company based in Watertown, Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) spin-off was founded by professor Marin Soljačić in 2007. WiTricity technology allows wireless power transfer over distance via magnetic resonance and the company licenses technology and reference designs for wireless electrical vehicle (EV) charging as well as consumer products such as laptops, mobile phones and televisions.

History

[edit]

The company was established by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) professor Marin Soljačić in 2007.[1][2] The MIT spin-off is based in Watertown, Massachusetts.[3] In 2014,[4] WiTricity joined the Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP), which later merged with the Power Matters Alliance to form the AirFuel Alliance.[3] Alex Gruzen replaced Eric Giler as chief executive officer (CEO) in 2014.[5][6] Morris Kesler serves as chief technology officer (CTO).[7][8] The company is a member of the Wireless Power Consortium.[9]

In 2017, WiTricity began focusing on charging systems for electric vehicles more than consumer technology products.[2] By 2018, WiTricity had partnered with more than a dozen automotive companies, including nine of the world's largest ten, on research and development projects.[10] Audi, Mahle GmbH, and Mitsubishi were among the partnering companies.[6][11]

In 2018, WiTricity was named a New Energy Pioneer by Bloomberg New Energy Finance.[12][13] The company acquired the assets and intellectual property rights of Qualcomm Halo and its inductive charging technology in February 2019; the deal included more than 1,000 patents and patent applications,[14] as well as technology designs and licenses, and made Qualcomm a minority owner of WiTricity.[6][15] In late 2020, MIT and WiTricity filed an infringement lawsuit against the Pennsylvania-based company Momentum Dynamics over seven wireless energy transfer patents.[16] The lawsuit resulted in the invalidation of six of the asserted patents, and WiTricity filed a second infringement suit in March 2023.[17]

Funding

[edit]

Prior to Toyota's investment in 2011, WiTricity had raised approximately $15 million.[18] By April 2013, WiTricity had received approximately $45 million in funding.[1] After additional funding rounds in 2015 and 2018, the company had raised $68 million.[2] WiTricity had raised approximately $88 million in venture capital by early 2019.[14] Funders have included Delta Electronics, Foxconn, Haier, Intel, Schlumberger, and Toyota.[14][19]

In 2020, WiTricity completed a $34 million round led by Stage 1 Ventures with additional participation by Air Waves Wireless Electricity and Mitsubishi subsidiary Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas).[20] The round was extended for an additional $18 million raised in January 2021; Tony Fadell was among the private investors and joined WiTricity's advisory board.[21][22]

In August 2022, WiTricity completed another round of funding raising $63 million.[23] The round was led by Siemens which invested $25 million and acquired a minority stake in the company earlier in June 2022.[24][25] Mirae Asset Capital and Japan Energy Fund joined the round along with few other returning investors.[23]

Technology

[edit]

WiTricity's technology allows wireless power transfer over distance via magnetic resonance.[1] Alternating current (AC) electricity runs through an electromagnetic coil within a charging station to form an oscillating electromagnetic field.[26] Another coil resonating at the same frequency captures the field's energy and a rectifier delivers direct current (DC) current to a battery management system.[3] The technology works through various materials, such as stone, cement, asphalt or wood, and has an energy conversion efficiency end-to-end above 90 percent, equivalent to plugging in.[citation needed] By 2013–2014, electric power output had reached 10 W for mobile devices, 6 kW for passenger vehicles, and 25 kW for fleets and buses.[5][27] WiTricity's EV has charging rates from 3.6 to 11 kW, and the technology scales up to hundreds of kilowatts for heavy duty vehicles such as buses.[28]

Uses

[edit]

WiTricity has reached licensing deals with Anjie Wireless,[29] Delphi (Aptiv), Intel,[5][30] Mahle, TDK, Toyota,[3][14] and Zhejiang VIE.[28] Thoratec licensed the technology to produce heart pumps capable of charging automatically.[4] WiTricity has demonstrated wireless charging for consumer products such as laptops, mobile phones, televisions,[31] and solar panel receivers.[32] The company has also shown how the technology can be used to power soldiers' helmets with night-vision goggles wirelessly during Humvee transportation.[33] Dell's 2017 launch of the laptop-tablet Latitude 7285 marked the first commercial consumer product to use the technology.[3]

In 2018, BMW's 530e iPerformance became the first vehicle factory equipped with wireless charging,[15] and Hyundai's Kona also demonstrated use of the technology.[10] In January 2019, Honda and WiTricity demonstrated wireless vehicle-to-grid charging at the Consumer Electronics Show.[15] The technology was also being used for the McLaren Speedtail Hyper-GT by 2020.[20][34] In May 2020, China published their national standard for EV wireless charging which incorporated WiTricity's technology,[35][36] and WiTricity played a key role in establishing SAE International's J2954 standard for wireless power transfer.[34][37]

In 2022, WiTricity received a $50,000 grant from the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform and the State of Michigan to install a wireless charging station at the Detroit Smart Parking Lab, operated by the American Center for Mobility.[38][39]

The 2022 Hyundai Genesis GV60 uses wireless charging hardware by WiTricity.[40][41][42]

In 2022, WiTricity licensed its technology with Wiferion, which develops wireless charging systems for industrial applications such as automated guided vehicles, cobots, and trucks.[43][44]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Markowitz, Eric (April 18, 2013). "All of the Electric Power with None of the Wires: If WiTricity succeeds in developing its technology, the future of electricity could be bright--and wireless". Inc. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Sullivan, Mark (February 27, 2018). "The Little Company That's Bringing Wireless Charging To Electric Cars". Fast Company. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e Engel, Jeff Bauter (July 11, 2017). "Dell Wirelessly Charging PC Marks WiTricity's First Consumer Device". Xconomy. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  4. ^ a b Frizell, Sam (June 4, 2014). "So Long, Charging Cables: Wireless Power Is Coming". Time. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c Lai, R. (June 11, 2014). "Intel's cable-free future will use WiTricity's advanced wireless charging". Engadget. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c Hanley, Steve (February 17, 2019). "A Conversation With WiTricity CEO Alex Gruzen — #CleanTechnica Exclusive". CleanTechnica. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  7. ^ "A Future of Gadgets without Power Cords? Not So Fast". NPR. July 21, 2017. Retrieved March 11, 2021 – via WBUR-FM.
  8. ^ Mearian, Lucas (March 28, 2018). "Wireless charging explained: What is it and how does it work?". Computerworld. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "Members List". Wireless Power Consortium.
  10. ^ a b Woyke, Elizabeth (September 18, 2018). "Future robo-taxis could charge themselves and help balance the electric grid". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  11. ^ Motavalli, Jim (July 25, 2012). "WiTricity Takes Its Car-Charging Technology Out for a Road Test". The New York Times. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  12. ^ Delony, Jennifer (April 12, 2018). "Wireless Charging Seen as a Game Changer for EV Infrastructure". Renewable Energy World. PennWell. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  13. ^ "Ten Winners of The New Energy Pioneers Unveiled at Bloomberg New Energy Finance Summit in New York City". Bloomberg New Energy Finance. April 9, 2018. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d Freeman, Mike (February 12, 2019). "WiTricity acquires assets of Qualcomm wireless electric vehicle charging group". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c Szatkowski, Danielle (February 11, 2019). "WiTricity acquires Qualcomm's EV charging unit". Automotive News. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  16. ^ Maffei, Lucia (December 10, 2020). "MIT, WiTricity file patent suit against Pa. tech company". Boston Business Journal. American City Business Journals. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  17. ^ "InductEV Successfully Defends Mission-Critical Patents".
  18. ^ Kirsner, Scott (April 27, 2011). "Toyota makes multi-million-dollar investment in WiTricity Corp., developer of wireless car-charging technology". Boston.com. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  19. ^ Sawers, Paul (February 11, 2019). "WiTricity acquires Qualcomm Halo to accelerate wireless charging for electric vehicles". VentureBeat. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  20. ^ a b Kane, Mark (November 4, 2020). "WiTricity Raises $34 Million To Expand Wireless EV Charging". InsideEVs. Motorsport Network. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  21. ^ Walrath, Rowan (March 2, 2021). "VC funding update: Boston startups and tech firms raised $2.3B in February". BostInno. The Business Journals. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  22. ^ Korosec, Kirsten (March 1, 2021). "The Station: Lucid Motors, Joby Aviation take the SPAC path and Sergey Brin's airship ambitions". TechCrunch. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  23. ^ a b Hernbroth, Megan (August 9, 2022). "EV charging startup WiTricity raises $63M". Axios. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022.
  24. ^ Bates, Michael (June 9, 2022). "Siemens Acquires Stake in WiTricity to Drive EV Wireless Charging Innovation". NGT News: Next-Gen Transportation. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  25. ^ Coppola, Gabrielle; Raymunt, Monica; Eckl-Dorna, Wilfried (June 28, 2022). "Volkswagen Sells Siemens Minority Stake in Electrify America". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022.
  26. ^ Talbot, David (May 13, 2016). "Wireless Charging Is Actually Charging Ahead". MIT Technology Review. Retrieved February 25, 2021.
  27. ^ Mearian, Lucas (December 5, 2013). "Toyota signs wireless charging deal with WiTricity". Computerworld. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Kane, Mark (March 29, 2019). "Zhejiang VIE to Use WiTricity Wireless Charging in China". InsideEVs. Retrieved April 2, 2021.
  29. ^ McMahan, Scott (February 11, 2019). "WiTricity and Qualcomm Partner on Halo Wireless EV Charging". EE Power. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  30. ^ Mearian, Lucas (June 11, 2014). "Intel plans to team up with WiTricity on wireless charging". Computerworld. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  31. ^ Glass, Nick; Ponsford, Matthew (March 28, 2014). "Wireless electricity? It's here". CNN. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  32. ^ Mearian, Lucas (October 13, 2021). "Power play: Wireless charging at a distance arrives". Computerworld. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  33. ^ Low, Aloysius (June 2, 2016). "Dell laptops coming soon with WiTricity wireless charging". CNET. Red Ventures. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  34. ^ a b Phelan, Mark (November 28, 2020). "This new feature is about to make electric cars way easier to use". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  35. ^ Dasgupta, Sabyasachi (May 11, 2020). "Wireless charging for electric vehicles could soon be a reality". Hindustan Times. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  36. ^ Wood, Charlie (June 8, 2020). "Researchers work on the next generation of wireless charging for electric vehicles and mobile devices". CNBC. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  37. ^ Hanley, Steve (November 5, 2020). "SAE Publishes New Wireless Charging Standard". CleanTechnica. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  38. ^ Fine, Ariana (18 March 2022). "WiTricity Wins EV Wireless Charging Grant for Detroit Smart Parking Lab". Next-Gen Transportation. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  39. ^ Stone, Tom (March 20, 2022). "State of Michigan announces grants to create a more accessible and electrified mobility future". Traffic Technology Today. Retrieved June 14, 2022.
  40. ^ Reyes, Alvin (24 August 2021). "2022 Genesis GV60 Could Be The First EV To Have Wireless Inductive Charging". Slash Gear. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  41. ^ Ramsey, Jonathon. "Genesis GV60 to gain wireless charging capability". Autoblog. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  42. ^ Kane, Mark (October 6, 2021). "Genesis GV60 Gets Factory-Installed Wireless Charging Option". InsideEVs. Retrieved June 9, 2022.
  43. ^ "Wiferion Enters into License Agreement with WiTricity for Industrial Wireless Charging Applications". Microwave Journal. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.
  44. ^ "Global license agreement for Wiferion". Handling and Storage Solutions. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 28, 2022.

Further reading

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[edit]
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