•Jaguar Land Rover partners with City of Oslo to launch wireless charging taxi project

•Project partners include US tech company Momentum Dynamics, charge point operator Fortum Recharge and taxi operator Cabonline/NorgesTaxi AS

•All taxis in Norway's capital will be emission-free by Q1 2024

(MAHWAH, N.J.) – June 24, 2020 – Jaguar Land Rover has agreed to support the City of Oslo with the world's first high-powered wireless taxis.

The project will be the first wireless high-powered charging system for electric taxis in the world. By providing a charging infrastructure model that can be implemented almost anywhere, it will help the rapid adoption of electric vehicles globally.

A team of engineers and technicians from both Momentum Dynamics and Jaguar Land Rover were engaged to help in testing the solution, and Cabonline signed up to operate the fleet as part of Oslo's ElectriCity program. Fortum Recharge, which will support the installation and electrification efforts, identified the need for a more efficient charging experience for taxi drivers in Oslo. The brand's performance SUV has been designed to enable Momentum Dynamics' wireless charging technology, making it the ideal vehicle to drive the initiative.

For usage efficiency, taxi drivers need a charging system that does not take them off route during their working hours. Multiple charging plates rated at 50-75 kilowatts each, are installed in the ground in series at pick-up-drop-off points. This allows each equipped taxi to charge while queuing for the next fare. The system, which uses no cables and situated below ground, requires no physical connection between charger and vehicle, engages automatically and provides on average 6-8 minutes of energy per each charge up to 50kW.

The taxi can then receive multiple charges throughout the day on its return to the rank, maintaining a high battery state of charge and the ability to remain in 24/7 service without driving range restrictions.

The Oslo ElectriCity partnership is part of Jaguar Land Rover's ambition to make societies healthier and safer, whilst reducing emissions. Delivered through relentless innovation to adapt its products and services to the rapidly changing world, the company's focus is on achieving Destination Zero, a future of zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

'We're extremely proud of our track record in electrification and we're committed to making electric vehicles easier to own and use,' said Prof Sir Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive. 'The taxi industry is the ideal test bed for wireless charging, and indeed for high-mileage electric mobility across the board. The inherently safe, energy efficient and high-powered wireless charging platform will prove critical for electric fleets, as the infrastructure is more effective than refuelling a conventional vehicle. We're delighted to be part of ElectriCity and to continue to lead the field in electric vehicle technology. This is a great step forward to reaching our Destination Zero mission.'

Oslo will be the world's first metropolitan area to install wireless, induction-based high-powered charging stations for electric taxis, in a bid to make its cab system emission free as early as 2024. Norway wants to go even further however and is mandating that all new cars sold in the country by 2025 are zero emission.

'We're delighted to welcome private enterprises to help us to turn our vision into reality,' said Arild Hermstad, the City of Oslo's Vice Mayor for Environment and Transport. 'As part of our commitment to reducing emissions by 95 per cent before 2030, we have put many exciting measures in place, but transport continues to be a key challenge. By improving infrastructure and providing better charging to the taxi industry, we are confident that by 2024 all taxis in Oslo will be zero emission. To reach our goal, the public sector, politicians and private enterprises must come together, as we do in this project.'

About Jaguar Land Rover

Jaguar Land Rover is the UK's largest automotive manufacturer, built around two iconic British car brands. Land Rover is the world's leading manufacturer of premium all-wheel-drive vehicles. Jaguar is one of the world's premier luxury marques, as well as being the first ever brand to offer a premium all-electric performance SUV, the Jaguar I-PACE.

At Jaguar Land Rover we are driven by a desire to deliver class-leading vehicles, providing experiences people love, for life. Our products are in demand around the globe and in 2019 we sold 557,706 vehicles in 127 countries.

We employ 40,000 people globally and support around 250,000 more through our retailer network, suppliers and local businesses. At heart we are a British company, with two major design and engineering sites, three vehicle manufacturing facilities, an Engine Manufacturing Centre and soon to be opened Battery Assembly Centre. We also have vehicle plants in China, Brazil, India, Austria and Slovakia. Three of our seven technology hubs are in the UK – Manchester, Warwick (NAIC) and London – with additional sites in Shannon, Ireland, Portland, USA, Budapest, Hungary and Changshu, China.

We have a growing portfolio of electrified products across our model range, embracing fully electric, plug-in hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles, as well as continuing to offer the latest diesel and petrol engines, giving our customers even more choice.

We are confident that our comprehensive strategy, exciting pipeline of market-leading vehicles and innovative approach to technology and mobility will see us continue to progress towards Destination Zero, our mission to shape future mobility with zero emissions, zero accidents and zero congestion.

Photo credit: Jaguar Land Rover
posted on conceptcarz.com

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