WiTricity, the industry pioneer in wireless power transfer over distance, has announced an intellectual property licensing agreement with Anjie Wireless, a China-based automotive Tier 1 supplier. Under the terms of the agreement, Anjie Wireless will license WiTricity’s patented magnetic resonance technology and industry-leading designs to develop and commercialize highly efficient wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging systems for sale to leading carmaker brands in the China market.
Most global automakers are expanding vehicle electrification in their product roadmaps. Making vehicle charging a convenient, seamless and efficient process is a top priority for accelerating EV adoption (in China and abroad), and a critical component of autonomous vehicle deployment. WiTricity’s DRIVE 11 system, based on the company’s patented magnetic resonance technology, operates at 11kW of power and at an efficiency that matches or exceeds most conventional plug-in chargers.
China is pushing toward an all-electric vehicle future, and officials predict that a complete ban on gas-powered automobiles will happen by 2040. Chinese consumers are already adopting EVs in large numbers and are on track to purchase more than one million by the end of 2018. A recent McKinsey report claims that China now has a larger EV market – primarily Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs) – than Europe and the United States combined.
Anjie Wireless was formed as a wholly owned subsidiary of Suzhou Anjie Technology Co., Ltd. to capture the opportunities that the booming global EV market will present. Anjie Wireless will develop, manufacture and sell vehicle components and charging infrastructure systems for wireless charging. The parent company is a diversified manufacturer of high value-added materials and components for automakers and consumer electronics companies.
As standardization is critical to large scale deployment of wireless charging, WiTricity is actively involved in the Chinese EV ecosystem through its work with the China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATARC) and China Energy Council (CEC) to develop the “GuoBiao standard” (GB standard), meaning “national standard,” for wireless EV charging.
“The market for EVs is growing rapidly in China, and we look forward to a strong partnership with WiTricity that will enable us to provide the most streamlined and efficient charging experience for carmakers and EV owners,” said John Wang, chairman and president, Suzhou Anjie Technology and Anjie Wireless.
“China is a leading force in EV innovation and adoption, and we are proud to partner with Anjie Wireless to build on the country’s EV momentum,” said Alex Gruzen, CEO, WiTricity. “Anjie Wireless is well positioned to be a leading Tier 1 supplier and will help expand wireless EV charging in China and accelerate consumer EV adoption.”
About Anjie Wireless
Anjie Wireless is a company focusing on the application, development and manufacture of wireless power transfer devices. Under its mission, “make life wire-free by continuous innovation,” Anjie Wireless aims to be a one-stop provider of wireless charging solutions for customers in various industries. To better support the development, Anjie Wireless has made a significant investment in its test lab and instruments. Anjie Wireless will further invest about US $80 million in a new wireless power transfer park with 95,000m2 building area, to establish the largest wireless power transfer R&D and manufacturing base and customer experience center in China. With the cooperation of WiTricity, a pioneer in wireless power transfer over distance, Anjie Wireless will enhance its strength to better support OEMs in the wireless charging application for electric vehicles.