How will people live 30 years from now? From the perspective of startup Meredot, wireless charging will become part of our daily lives.
The company, which develops wireless charging solutions for mobility, was founded in 2017 in Ukraine, where the founders are from. Nowadays, it focuses on the US and European markets, according to Roman Bysko, Meredot's co-founder and CEO.
Bysko said that compared to cable charging, wireless charging can function in various weather conditions, including snow and extremely cold temperatures. Wireless solutions also enable an autonomous charging process.
At CES 2024, Meredot officially launched its Infinity Charger for micromobility vehicles and robots. Bysko claimed that it was the first product in the industry to charge up to 10 different micromobility vehicles simultaneously. The charging station's dimensions are several times smaller than those of competitors, he added.
The charging solution supports electric scooters, food delivery robots, material handling carts, and more. Bysko said the charging process can start automatically in one second once these light vehicles or robots equipped with a receiver unit are parked on charging pads.
The Infinity Charger's efficiency is 93%, Bysko said, similar to what cable charging offers. More importantly, it is a contactless solution with an operation distance (between a receiver and a charging pad) of up to 30 cm. This is why the charger can provide power to different types of vehicles or robots.
To raise awareness of the wireless charging station's capabilities, Bysko said Meredot is working on deploying the solution at big-box stores like Costco and Walmart, where electric shopping carts, electric wheelchairs, and other light vehicles are adopted. The company also targets Amazon and DHL warehouses because these companies use robots for sorting and packaging.
Autonomy is a critical element of Meredot's technology. Bysko said the company has been working with Canada-based Cyberworks Robotics, which develops self-driving technology for mobile machines and light vehicles. Although these vehicles can function autonomously, they still need to be charged manually at the end of the day. Bysko said Meredot is helping its Canadian partner overcome the challenge. The pair has launched a pilot project at an airport in Michigan, the US, this year.
A solution requires no electrical infrastructure improvement
Meredot has progressed to the second part of its roadmap – developing an autonomous mobile wireless charging robot for electric cars. According to Bysko, when people park their EVs on the street or in a parking lot, the charging robot will come over, park underneath the vehicle, and start charging. When the service is finished, the robot will return to its spot autonomously.
"With such a solution, you don't need to change the electrical infrastructure in a parking space or a city," the CEO added.
He also said the charging robot allows drivers to park in any space, not just the one next to the charger. Meredot plans to release the product later in 2024. The company aims to develop single-based wireless EV charging stations and dynamic wireless charging road solutions by 2030.
Meredot entered the market with solutions for micromobility vehicles because the wireless charging sector is still developing. Bysko said the EV penetration rate must increase to at least 50% before wireless charging becomes prevalent among automobiles. He added that governments need to improve the grid and other infrastructure to satisfy charging needs.
Micromobility will also help Meredot scale its technology quickly. Bysko said it will take some time for people to migrate from cable to wireless charging. Therefore, the company has approached potential customers to show what its solution offers.
Besides developing the US and European markets, Meredot is poised to debut in Asia. According to Bysko, a leading Japanese manufacturer has got in touch with the company, seeking collaboration.
"Hopefully, we will see some pilot projects next year," he said.
Roman Bysko is Meredot’s co-founder and CEO. Credit: Meredot
