Cutting the cord: Will Israel’s Wi-Charge transform the future of power?

The company created what it calls “AirCord” technology, which lets you power devices from a distance. They use infrared (IR) technology to send power wirelessly to various devices. 

By MAAYAN JAFFE-HOFFMANMARCH 3, 2024 11:47Updated: MARCH 3, 2024 15:56
Published by The Jerusalem Post

In a world where wires still dominate the landscape of power transfer, a new revolution is quietly unfolding: wireless power transmission.

Imagine the convenience of charging your smartphone or electric toothbrush without ever needing to hunt for an outlet or untangle a mess of cords. Picture a digital display at the edge of a supermarket shelf, silently drawing power from what appears to be thin air to illuminate product details or sales.

This futuristic scenario is not just a figment of the imagination. It’s Wi-Charge.
Wi-Charge, founded a decade ago by Israeli technologists, has only recently started gaining traction. The company created what it calls “AirCord” technology, which lets you power devices from a distance. It uses infrared (IR) technology to send power wirelessly to various devices.

The Wi-Charge system works like this: Plug the transmitters into regular power outlets or track lighting. These transmitters change electricity into safe infrared beams. They then find the nearby devices and send them the infrared energy.

Each device needs a Wi-Charge receiver attached to it. These receivers catch the infrared beams and turn them back into electricity. This electricity charges up the device’s battery or a capacitor, which the device uses to power itself up.

One transmitter can cover a pretty big area – about 130 square meters. Moreover, gadgets can get way more power than they would from batteries alone – like 10 to 100 times more.
The founders of the company – Ori Mor, Ortal Alpert, and Victor Vaisleib – had a very successful history in Israel’s hi-tech industry before Wi-Charge. In addition to founding a SaaS mobile engagement platform acquired by Teradata, Mor spent 11 years in the Electronic Research and Development unit of the Israel Defense Forces. Alpert, who identified and developed the core technology behind Wi-Charge, founded an optical storage startup company and developed algorithms for companies traded on NASDAQ. Vaisleb is the founder of Passave, which was acquired by PMS-Sierra.
“We came to Wi-Charge from a place of innovations to solve complicated problems – of making the impossible possible,” Mor explained to The Jerusalem Post from his office in Tel Aviv.However, Mor admitted that neither he nor Alpert had anticipated the challenges involved in developing wireless charging technology of this nature.
“Communication with wireless devices unleashed a $3 trillion industry and changed our lives forever. But there was just one thing: this annoying chord,” Mor said, holding a white charger in one hand. “It’s a hassle to charge. So, we decided to solve it.” …Read More