Inductive charging (also known as wireless or inductive loading) refers to contactless energy transmission via electromagnetic fields. In the construction equipment sector, the technology is gaining importance as more manufacturers such as Volvo CE, Wacker Neuson, and JCB bring fully electric machines to market.
The principle is based on two coils: a transmitter coil in the ground (charging pad) generates an alternating magnetic field that induces a voltage in the receiver coil of the machine. Current systems achieve efficiency rates of 85–93% at power levels up to 300 kW — sufficient for compact excavators and wheel loaders.
The major advantage over cable charging: no plugs, no contamination issues, no mechanical wear. The machine simply parks over the charging plate. Volvo CE is already testing the system in real quarry applications, where wheel loaders automatically recharge during short idle times.