Wireless energy

Right in time for the upcoming CES 2009 in Las Vegas the issue of Wireless Energy appears again, which means the wireless transmission of electricity. Promising, especially for all types of mobile devices, but is this technology really applicable?

From time to time you can read about breakthroughs in Wireless Energy research. Last year at this time in some blogs was speculated, that Apple is going to bring a Wireless Energy docking station for the new MacBook Air on the market. So it is, however, never.

demo video by Wipower

And what's really new about the technology? Nothing. All systems of wireless power transmission are based on induction. A well known principle that has long been used in households, like in electric toothbrushes or induction hobs.

Much discussed are poor efficiency in the transmission and possible health risks associated with this technology. Till now no objective research results can be found in any case.

I think, that new sources of energy (see report on innovative energy sources) in mobile devices will have far greater potential than the wireless transmission of electricity.