Smartphones are great, in so many ways. A little computer that’s arm’s-length away at all times, that gives us access to pretty much any information we could want is a fantastic tool.
But as phones get faster, with bigger, higher quality screens and apps for nearly everything, there’s one thing that’s getting worse—battery life. The more we use our phones, the quicker we drain the battery. But, paradoxically, the more we use our phones, the more we depend on them for directions, phone numbers, and even basic communication.
Being out and about with a dead phone is an anxiety-inducing prospect for many, but carrying around a charger in the hopes of finding a spare outlet isn’t always an option.
To get around this issue, big tech vendors are putting a lot of work into developing better batteries for smartphones. But this isn’t exactly a quick process. So there’s another new technology that’s helping smartphone users stay out of the red—wireless charging.
Segmentation of global wireless chargers market by application 2015-2020
Source: Technavio
Now, consumer electronics like smartphones and tablets have been the main vision for wireless charging vendors since the technology first became viable. In 2015, the consumer electronics segment accounted for a whopping 89% of the wireless charging market. This dominance is going to continue this year, and over the next three until 2020, when something interesting happens—consumer electronics fall from the top spot in the wireless charging market.
That’s right, over the next five years, the automotive segment is going to sneak up to eventually overtake smartphones and tablets. It won’t capture as huge a share as electronics once did, but it will account for 50.49% of the market, knocking electronics down to just 47.97%.
Now it’s a bit unfair to say that automotive will totally unseat electronics, because a lot of the wireless charging technology being adopted in the automotive sector is meant for smartphones. Big automakers like Audi, General Motors and Toyota are adding wireless charging pads to their cars so that drivers can charge their phones on-the-go.
But one segment of the automotive wireless charging market that has nothing to do with smartphones is charging for the cars themselves.
Just like it can be a big pain to find a plug for your phone, having to plug in your car has been a bit barrier for electric vehicles (EVs). But now, tech and automotive manufacturers are joining forces to solve this conundrum.
Qualcomm, a wireless telecommunications products manufacturer, made the jump from wireless smartphone charging to delve into the world of wireless EV charging (WEVC) with its Halo prototype technology.
In July 2015, the company entered into a WEVC patent agreement with BRUSA, an automotive Tier 1 supplier. This has allowed BRUSA to use Qualcomm’s Halo to develop wireless chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles and EVs. Plugless is another company offering wireless EV charging. The company’s website says their product is a 3.3kw charging system that can charge a car just as fast as a regular corded charger.
Needless to say, the potential here is massive, and it’s translating into major growth in the wireless charger market. In terms of revenue, the market was valued at $2.24 billion in 2015, which translated to just under 90 million chargers.
The market is expected to hit a value of $9.36 billion by 2020—about 350 million units.
So swipe, scroll, play, and even drive away—the way this market is growing, there’s bound to be a wireless charger nearby soon enough.
