Wireless e-scooter charging trial underway at University of Warwick “living lab”

Voi Technology, the UK’s largest e-scooter rental operator, has partnered with Imperial College founded Bumblebee Power and University of Warwick’s WMG, to trial the use of wireless e-scooter charging.

The six-month trial at the University of Warwick’s “living lab” will see staff working across the campus test the technology, which will provide evidence to support the assertion that wireless charging has the potential to improve overall performance and reduce operating costs of the escooters.

Currently, vehicles are charged at warehouses, with batteries replaced and switched out during maintenance checks. Wireless charging “in the field” would allow e-scooter companies to significantly reduce the need for warehouse-based battery swapping, a process that makes up around half of operating costs.

Regular topping up, rather than allowing batteries to run almost flat, could extend battery life by a factor of up to three.

David Yates, CTO of Bumblebee Power says its technology provides “automatic connection via a very efficient wireless charging system, saving operational expenditure for the fleet operator by eliminating battery swaps. In addition, it makes possible the ability to extend the battery’s life, by controlling the charging regime whilst maximising vehicle availability.”

Sam Pooke, Senior Policy Manager at Voi UK and Ireland, adds, “Applying this technology has the potential to not only reduce the operational impact of how we charge batteries for our vehicles but also in making an already convenient and flexible service even more accessible for new and existing riders.”

If successful the technology could be expanded to cover more of the Voi fleet across the UK.