Qualcomm chooses AxiCom to launch EV charging project in London

AxiCom has been appointed by Qualcomm to launch its wireless electric vehicle-charging initiative across the UK and US. In the initial phase Qualcomm is partnering with Transport for London (TFL) and the Mayor of London’s office as part of its bid to make London a cleaner capital city, and is launching a pre-commercial trial slated to begin in early 2012.

This will involve up to 50 electric vehicles (EVs) and is designed to assess the potential of wireless charging for vehicles in the capital. The scheme will be based partially around Old Street, London’s high-tech hub often dubbed Tech City, a move which Qualcomm hopes will encourage the city’s entrepreneurs to innovate and provide new clean technology services and applications.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, demonstrated his enthusiasm for the project by attending its launch at the Tech City event in November. The trial’s commercial partners are Addison Lee, the UK’s largest private hire taxi company, and Chargemaster, an operator of EV charging infrastructure.

AxiCom is responsible for running media and industry stakeholder activities in the cleantech and automotive sectors, it will also be handling the official launch at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), held in January in Las Vegas. AxiCom will lead subsequent events as additional projects are rolled out across Europe and the US.

Julian Tanner, AxiCom’s CEO, said: ‘We will target the automotive industry to hit home the message that this technology has solved the problems around the practicalities of charging electric vehicles, garnering support from manufacturers and industry influencers.’