Tesla scraps its wireless EV charging plans, leaving Porsche to pioneer the technology

• Cybertruck engineer claims Tesla has scrapped plans for wireless charging
• The Cybertruck's height has been cited as a reason for the tech not working
• Porsche has announced that it will launch inductive tech next year

Tesla had the rumor mill in full swing last year when a series of events strongly hinted that the company was exploring wireless, inductive charging. But those hopes have now seemingly been dashed.

Eagle-eyed Tesla fans first spotted images that appeared to show a wireless charging plate in a presentation that took place during an investor’s day in 2023.

Tesla chief designer, Franz von Holzhausen, then told Jay Leno during the run-up to the Cybertruck launch that the company was working on inductive charging so customers wouldn’t have to physically plug in.

However, another Tesla employee close to Cybertruck says that idea is dead in the water. According to lead engineer Wes Morrill, there is “nothing planned there,” as reported by NotATeslaApp.

The website quotes a Discord chat where Wes put to bed any rumors surrounding Cybertruck's involvement with inductive charging.

"Wireless charging for something as far off the ground as the CT is silly,” he said, going on to explain that to compensate for the truck’s height, a wireless charging base would need to be at least six-inches tall, which clearly isn’t the sleek package Tesla was hoping for.

We’ve reached out to Tesla for clarification, but the company hasn’t released a statement to confirm whether it was ever working on wireless charging in the first place, or if it has cancelled plans to investigate it further.

Last year, the Cybertruck Owner's Club spotted references to release connectors for an Inductive Charger in the vehicle's service manual last year, so the rumors weren't without substance. But it seems the long wait could continue indefinitely.

Porsche leads the wireless charge

Although we are waiting for confirmation from Tesla, the news surrounding wireless charging could be regarded as another blow for Cybertruck.

Marketed as the pinnacle of Tesla technology, it is already considered a failed project by many critics, seeing as it has underperformed on original range claims, has been subject to a number of recalls, has had its much-lauded range extended battery pack scrapped, and has sold far fewer units than original forecast.

Where Tesla has slowed its rate of EV innovation in recent years, other brands have been capitalizing.

Porsche revealed last week that it will offer the world’s first production wireless charging pad on the upcoming Cayenne SUV, allowing for 11kW charging speeds without the unsightly cables.

There’s no word on how expensive it will be, or what the predicted uptake might look like, but it feels like a technological step forward for EVs nonetheless.

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