Taxi ranks in Oslo get induction plates for wireless fast charging

Taxi stands in Oslo are getting induction plates to wirelessly charge the electric taxis while the drivers wait for customers. With this, the city council hopes to speed up the electrification of taxis. By 2023, all taxis in Oslo should be electric.

According to the press release, infrastructure is the biggest problem that taxi drivers with electric cars now face. It would take too long to find a charging station and wait for the car to be charged. The induction plates could solve this problem, as taxis only have to drive to the plate. Charging will then start automatically. This allows the taxi drivers to load at a location where they already have to be because that is where the customers come, the press release says.

For the taxi ranks, the city council works together with energy company Fortum and induction specialist Momentum Dynamics. The parties do not specify how many induction plates there will be. They do say that charging is done with a maximum of 75kW. For wireless charging, the taxis must be equipped with a receiver.

A city official responsible for electric mobility indicates that all taxis in Oslo must be emission-free from 2023. The director of Momentum Dynamics indicates that electric taxis can operate continuously with this project.

Electric driving in Norway is on the rise; in 2018, nearly one in three cars sold was fully electric. The country aims to stop selling new petrol or diesel cars by 2025.