There is an Upgrade for Wireless Charging … But is that a Good Thing?

At first, the idea of wireless charging seems to be a perfect; what if, someday, our devices never have to be charged? This is probably why such aggressive progress has been made toward building a better battery charger. Nevertheless, not everyone is convinced that a wireless charging upgrade will have the desired results.

Where the Technology Stands 
Wireless charging capabilities are fairly standard at this point in time. Many mobile devices in this era have the built-in capability to be charged wirelessly, as long as they are positioned correctly on a special charging pad. Still, a company called Ossia has been created to develop wireless charging that can take place at a distance via trickle charging capabilities.

This technique of delivering power leverages radio frequencies to send both data and power to the connected device. Taking advantage of this new potential, Ossia has worked to create new conduits to deliver this power, leaving the charging pads typical of wireless charging in favor of a wider variety of devices under its Cota line. Instead of needing the device to be physically touching the power source in order to charge, signals are bounced around objects in the environment to deliver both power and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Ossia’s advanced charging system includes components like AA batteries that can be charged wirelessly, as well as drop ceiling tiles that send the signals out to the devices.

Is This a Good Thing Though?
Naturally, there is no questioning the convenience that this type of technology could provide, but there is the question of the affect it could have on the device. Smartphones, for example: what does constantly keeping a device’s battery fully charged ultimately do to the device?

The answer: nothing good. While “overcharging” is no longer a concern, the makeup of modern batteries means that they can still suffer some damage. The explanation involves its chemistry.

Lithium-ion batteries have three imperative elements to their operation: a positive and negative electrode (made of a lithium-based compound and carbon graphite) and some type of electrolyte. As the battery charges, lithium ions move from the positive electrode to the negative electrode via the electrolyte to be stored as energy. When this power is utilized, the ions move back to the positive electrode.

Over time, this process wears away the electrolyte that permits the ions to move back and forth, ultimately preventing them from doing so efficiently or successfully. Without the ions ability to move, the battery isn’t going to work as effectively. As a result of this, every battery only has a certain number of charge cycles in it before it is rendered ineffective.

The argument is that, by constantly charging the battery, wireless charging eats away at the battery’s lifespan. Others counter with the argument that keeping the battery topped off actually allows the battery to remain effective for longer. Some take the argument one step further to say that the convenience of a fully-charged device is worth the cost of a replacement battery.

What are your thoughts on this topic? Will wireless charging become a success, despite these concerns about battery life and longevity? Let us know in the comments section, and make sure to subscribe to our Macro Systems blog! Give us a call at 703-359-9211 if you have any questions.