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An Aussie company provided the McLaren Speedtail Hyper-GT’s wireless charging system

Australian company Lumen Freedom has revealed it supplied the wireless charging technology used in the 2020 McLaren Speedtail Hyper-GT.


The 2020 McLaren Speedtail Hyper-GT hybrid hypercar is the first vehicle in the world to rely solely on wireless charging.

Melbourne-based Lumen Freedom confirmed it provided the wireless charging receiver, wall box and ground pad for the AU$2.88 million car – the key components which allow it to seamlessly charge via induction, without the need for cables.

"There is no 'plug-in' charging on the Speedtail Hyper-GT—only wireless charging," Lumen Freedom explained in a statement.

"It utilises Formula 1 racing technology, with a powerful internal combustion engine paired with an electric motor and battery pack to provide astonishing acceleration and regenerative braking.

"The wireless charging technology is standard with the vehicle, enabling the vehicle to charge itself when not in use."

 

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Billed as the "fastest McLaren road car ever", the hand-built Speedtail Hyper-GT has Lumen Freedom's wireless charging receiver unit built into the nose of its 5.2m-long, 1430kg carbon-fibre body.

This on-board unit corresponds with a ground pad – measuring roughly 66cm wide and 78cm long and weighing 26kg – which comes standard with purchase of the Hyper-GT.

The ground assembly element is a derivative of Lumen Freedom's 11kW system, which can be de-rated to suit the consumers' needs and the specific requirements of the vehicle.

Charging times vary depending on the power rating of the owner's individual system – which can range from 3.3kW to 7kW and up – but a rough estimate is 6-8 hours for the car's on-board battery to reach full charge.

 

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The Speedtail's twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre, V8 engine and parallel hybrid system is capable of producing a maximum power output of 1036hp, or 772kW, boasting a top speed of 403km/h and the ability to hit 300km/h in just 12.8 seconds from a standing start.

Only 106 Speedtail Hyper-GTs were built as a tribute to the original number of McLaren F1 cars made, and all examples have already been sold.

Lumen Freedom has been working on its wireless charging technology since 2016 and was the first provider in the world to have its wireless electric-car charging technology certified for public use.

Its wireless charging systems can be mounted on top of the ground or placed underground and are able to transfer power across water, ice, snow, mud and gravel, asphalt and concrete.

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Susannah Guthrie

Susannah Guthrie has been a journalist for over a decade, covering everything from world news to fashion, entertainment, health and now cars. Having previously worked across titles like The New Daily, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, People Magazine and Cosmopolitan, Susannah now relishes testing family cars with the help of her husband and two-year-old son.

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