Look, No Cables! An Interview Study into Guiding the Practical Implementation of Wireless Chargers for Electric Taxis

Abstract

Wireless charging could facilitate the transition from diesel powered taxis to low/zero emission alternatives. The WiCET project aims to install five wireless chargers and retrofit nine taxis with wireless power transfer (WPT) capabilities, to study the impacts of enabling smaller but more frequent in-rank charging. Semi-structured interviews with 8 taxi drivers from Nottingham, UK were run. The results found that all drivers were in favour of in-rank wireless charging, citing the convenience and potential to complete more fares. Furthermore, most drivers recommended placing the chargers sequentially and away from the front of the taxi rank, to maximise their charging time (when the minority of vehicles are WPT-enabled). This study provides evidence for wireless charging as an enabler of electric taxis in medium-sized cities, such as Nottingham, as well as provide insights into the practical realities of installing in-rank wireless chargers and highlights areas for future study.