| Qualcomm | |
|---|---|
| |
| Partner Information | |
| Based |  San Diego, California
|
| Founder | Irwin Jacobs,
|
| Announced | 1985 |
| Role | Technology Partner |
| Official Website | Qualcomm |
Qualcomm Incorporated, better known simply as Qualcomm, are an American based electrical company, that specialises in telecommunications.[1] A founding partner of the FIA Formula E Championship, Qualcomm provide their innovative wireless charging system to the Championship, used to charge the BMW Qualcomm i8 safety car at each event.[2][3]
Background[]
Founded in 1985 in San Diego, California (USA), Qualcomm started out as a Research & Development group for telecommunications.[4] After being instrumental in the development of Mobile to Mobile communications in the late 80s, Qualcomm began development of CDMA (multiple band radio communications) for the phone industry, before combining their work with the dawning of the internet age.[4] Numerous developments have emerged since, with Qualcomm using satellite technology and other innovative ideas to become a world leader in their field.[4]
Formula E History[]
The BMW Qualcomm i8 safety car.
It was their recent interest in wireless charging, through the Qualcomm Halo system, that the FIA and Formula E Holdings took an interest in Qualcomm when founding the Championship.[2] Mutual interest in developing Electric Vehicle technology drew the two together, with Qualcomm adopting the BMW i8 that the German manufacturers had provided for the championship.[2] The i8, now fitted with the Halo™ system, was christened the BMW Qualcomm i8, and serves as the safety car to the championship.[2]
Their HALO system has since been fitted to all 42 Spark-Renault SRT_01Es used by the Championship, and is expected to be applied to all future Formula E machinery.[2]
Products[]
Qualcomm's signature innovation, the Halo™ WEVC system, is their major contribution to the championship, although countless other creations by the company are in use, from chips built into phone sets, to the software used to monitor the energy data from each car.[2] Qualcomm have also adapted the two BMW i8s and BMW i3s given to the championship, although these remain the responsibility of BMW to maintain.
Qualcomm Halo™ WEVC[]
The Qualcomm Halo Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging system is almost exactly what its name suggests, a wireless recharging system for Formula E's cars.[5] Using a plate which conducts 20kw of power through around 200mm of air, one of the various SRT_01Es can be charged simply by sitting above the plate, going from flat to full charge in around 20 minutes.[3] Hoping to harness solar energy as a method to generate electricity, the Halo™ WEVC system is also hoped to be used to introduce charging on the move, although Qualcomm admit this is several years off.[3]
References[]
Videos and Images:
References:
- ↑ 'Invention', qualcomm.com, (Qualcomm Technologies, 2015), https://www.qualcomm.com/invention, (Accessed 21/07/2015)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 'Qualcomm becomes Founding Technology Partner of FIA Formula E Championship', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 09/09/2013), http://fiaformulae.com/en/news/2013/september/qualcomm-becomes-founding-technology-partner-of-fia-formula-e-championship.aspx, (Accessed 21/07/2015)
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 'INSIGHT: Qualcomm wireless charging – how does it work?', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 22/12/2014), http://fiaformulae.com/en/news/2014/december/insight-qualcomm-wireless-charging-how-does-it-work.aspx, (Accessed 21/07/2015)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 'History', qualcomm.com, (Qualcomm Technologies, 2015), https://www.qualcomm.com/company/about/history, (Accessed 21/07/2015)
- ↑ 'Qualcomm Halo', qualcomm.com, (Qualcomm Technologies, 2015), https://www.qualcomm.com/products/halo, (Accessed 21/07/2015)
| FIA Formula E Partners |
|---|
| Institutional |
| Formula E Holdings • Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile • ABB |
| Founding |
| BMW • DHL • Michelin • Qualcomm • Renault • TAG Heuer |
| Other |
| Aggreko • Antofagasta Minerals • Google Cloud • Julius Bär • PIF • Sabic • Saudia • TATA Communications • Tattinger |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 3) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Dallara • Hankook • Hewland • Lucid Motors • Fortescue Zero |
| Spark Technical Partners (Generation 4) |
| Spark Racing Technologies • Brembo • Bridgestone • Dallara • Marelli • Podium AT |
| Former Partners |
| 1st Round • Allianz • Bosch • CNBC • Cooper Co. • Enel • Heineken • Hugo Boss • McLaren • Modis • Rimac Automobili • Umicore • voestalpine |