The Genesis GV60, Hyundai’s first exclusive electric vehicle, set to be released next year, is poised to introduce a groundbreaking technology: it will be one of the first electric vehicles globally with original equipment wireless charging.
The hardware, reportedly supplied by WiTricity, will initially be offered (or enabled) only in South Korea, as confirmed by Genesis to Green Car Reports on Friday. The brand will first incorporate wireless charging technology in the GV60 as part of a trial or pilot program in that market in the latter part of the next year.
Genesis did not mention wireless charging in the press materials for the GV60, revealed last week, and could not confirm if it might offer wireless charging in the U.S. Hyundai Motor Group has stated that the technology could play a convenience role for some vehicles built on the dedicated E-GMP EV platform, which the GV60 shares with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and the Kia EV6.
While wireless charging has been available as an aftermarket upgrade for years, it has remained a niche product. According to WiTricity, this is the first time a new battery-electric vehicle will be equipped with the technology, which utilizes a magnetic field across two coils to enable current transfer without any physical connection. Several Chinese entries, which have adopted technology-optimized standards, could arrive around the same time in early 2022 or slightly precede the GV60. However, none of those models seems destined for the U.S. and Europe like the GV60.
Wireless charging has significant potential in electric vehicles, as it could allow drivers to charge wherever they go (e.g., at shopping malls, in snowy and winter weather) without having to exit the car and deal with a heavy charging cable and connector. A parking tool would simply ensure the car is aligned for optimal charging.
BMW has been testing the technology on some plug-in hybrids of the 5 Series but has not yet shared the results of that test.
Genesis has not released technical information for the GV60, but both the Ioniq 5 and EV6 offer a 77.4 kWh battery pack that, in some versions, should enable over 300 miles of range, taking all types of charging seriously—including fast DC charging and bidirectional capability that could be used for future smart home functions. Hyundai has claimed that the Ioniq 5, as the first model in the parent company’s mass-market EV push, will outperform the Tesla Model Y in terms of recovered autonomy miles. For now, the real challenge will be convincing enough stakeholders to install the charging platforms and hardware. This includes car manufacturers, business owners, and customers, possibly even charging networks. If a luxury brand like Genesis takes the lead, it could be the beginning of something significant.
