WiTricity has acquired more than 1,500 patents and patent applications from Qualcomm Incorporated and Qualcomm Technologies to accelerate development of wireless electric vehicle charging systems.
Through the transaction, Qualcomm Incorporated will become a minority shareholder in the wireless power transfer specialist.
Alex Gruzen, CEO of WiTricity, said: “WiTricity’s wireless charging technology is key to the future of mobility which is clearly electric and increasingly shared and autonomous.
“EV drivers and fleets demand a simple, effortless charging experience.
“Bringing Qualcomm Halo technology into the WiTricity portfolio will simplify global interoperability and significantly accelerate commercialisation.”
Steve Pazol, adviser, and former vice president and GM, wireless charging, Qualcomm Incorporated, added: “With Qualcomm technology and expertise, we have been able to deliver innovative automotive solutions, like Qualcomm Halo wireless electric vehicle charging (WEVC), not only to support the shared vision of a more efficient, safer and cleaner urban mobility, but also to transform the automotive experience.
“Qualcomm is confident that combining WEVC under WiTricity’s leadership will create accessibility to and demand by customers for this exciting technology.”
The acquisition follows other recent milestones for WiTricity.
The company has signed several new licensing deals including Mahle in Germany and Anjie Wireless in China.
Earlier this year, Honda and WiTricity demonstrated their wireless vehicle-to-grid charging model at CES in Las Vegas, leveraging WiTricity’s DRIVE 11 wireless charging system.
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Andrew Ryan is the features editor at Fleet News. He has been a journalist for more than 20 years and has specialised in the fleet industry for the past 12.
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