Let your Tesla Model S charge itself with Plugless' wireless charger

By Ronan Glon February 24, 2016

telsa autopilot crash theories 2015 tesla model s p85d — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Major car makers like BMW and Volkswagen are investing substantial amounts of money into inductive charging technology that promises to make the charging cord a relic of the past. An aftermarket company named Plugless beat them all to the punch when it launched a wireless charger for the Nissan Leaf, the Chevrolet Volt, and the slow-selling Cadillac ELR. Now, Virginia-based Plugless is turning its attention to the Tesla Model S.

The wireless charger consists of a parking pad that can be installed either in a garage or on a driveway, sensors that help the driver position the S directly above the pad, and an adapter that’s bolted under the car. Designed to work between 0 and 122 degrees Fahrenheit, the pad can be either plugged into a 50-amp circuit or hardwired into a house’s electrical system. Either way, the adapter can be installed without making any software modifications to the Model S, and it doesn’t alter the sedan’s ability to charge using a conventional cord.

The 7.2kW charger provides approximately 20 miles of range for every hour of charging. In other words, it takes eight hours to top up a Model S equipped with a relatively small 60kWh battery pack, 10 hours to fully charge a midrange 70kWh model, and 12 hours to top up an 85kWh pack. It’s worth noting that the wireless charger is only compatible with the rear-wheel drive Model S, though Plugless is currently developing a charger for the all-wheel drive 70D, 90D, and P90D models. Similarly, the company plans on offering a wireless charger for the Roadster, for the recently-launched Model X, and for the upcoming Model 3.

Tesla owners looking to go hands-free can reserve Plugless’ wireless charger by making a $244 deposit online. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in April, but the company hasn’t revealed the total cost of the system yet. For what it’s worth, a wireless charger for a Nissan Leaf retails for $1,540.

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Ronan Glon is an American automotive and tech journalist based in southern France. As a long-time contributor to Digital…

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