WiTricity AI Tech Wins Autonomous Vehicle Innovation of the Year in 2026 AutoTech Breakthrough Awards
Hands-free wireless charging solution recognized for supporting autonomous electric vehicle operations.
WiTricity AI Tech, LLC (WiTricity), a pioneer in wireless electric vehicle charging, announced that its wireless charging solution has been selected as “Autonomous Vehicle Innovation of the Year” in the 7th annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program. The program recognizes leading companies, technologies and products in the global automotive and transportation technology markets.
WiTricity’s automated charging technology pairs a compact receiver mounted on a vehicle’s undercarriage with a ground-based charging pad. The pad can be placed on or installed flush with a parking surface, indoors or outdoors. When the vehicle parks over the pad, power transfers automatically through magnetic resonance, charging the battery without anyone handling a cable or connector.
A vehicle equipped with a WiTricity receiver can use compatible ground pads across its operating route. Charging at terminals, depots and other stops allows vehicles to recharge throughout the day, reducing the need for dedicated charging sessions. Maintaining a higher average battery state of charge can also allow operators to specify smaller battery packs, reducing vehicle cost and increasing available payload.
WiTricity’s ground assemblies are IP-rated, certified and validated against snow, ice, mud and debris. They are rated to withstand drive-over loads and can be installed flush with parking surfaces without changing their appearance or function.
“Our solution has already been deployed in the real world with our technology powering an autonomous electric bus that navigates directly over the charging pads, aligns, parks, and initiates charging entirely without human involvement. The bus can top off at every terminal, layover point, depot, or stop along its daily circuit,” said Joe Benz, CEO of WiTricity. “We’re proud to accept this accolade from AutoTech Breakthrough. Whether the application is autonomous transit buses, delivery vehicles, logistics fleets, or more, our hands-free, infrastructure-flexible charging solution allows these vehicles to operate as autonomously as they were designed to.”
The annual AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program evaluates innovation across the automotive and mobility industries, including autonomous driving, connected vehicle software, safety systems, fleet management and electrification.
“WiTricity eliminates charging as a failure point. Autonomous vehicles have the potential to transform transportation. However, they can only fully deliver on that promise if they can operate continuously without human intervention. Since plugging in requires a human, charging has historically been the weak link in that chain. Autonomous vehicle fleets are only as reliable as their least reliable subsystem,” said Bryan Vaughn, Managing Director, AutoTech Breakthrough. “WiTricity removes the last manual touchpoint from autonomous vehicle operations, delivering infrastructure that operates autonomously — demonstrated, deployed, and ready to scale. We’re pleased to award them with the award for ‘Autonomous Vehicle Innovation of the Year.’”
About AutoTech Breakthrough
Part of Tech Breakthrough, a leading market intelligence and recognition platform for global technology innovation and leadership, the AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program is devoted to honoring excellence in automotive technologies, services, companies and products. The AutoTech Breakthrough Awards program provides a forum for public recognition around the achievements of AutoTech companies and solutions in categories including Connected Car, Electric Vehicles, Engine Tech, Automotive CyberSecurity, Sensor Technology, Traffic Tech, Vehicle Telematics and more. For more information, visit AutoTechBreakthrough.com.
Tech Breakthrough LLC does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in our recognition programs, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with award designations. Tech Breakthrough LLC recognition consists of the opinions of the Tech Breakthrough LLC organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Tech Breakthrough LLC disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this recognition program, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.