Picture a future where your devices power up automatically—no cables, no battery replacements, just seamless, out-of-sight power in the background. That future isn’t far away. With Wi-Charge, wireless power over distance is leaving the laboratory and coming to life, charging everything from smart locks to store signs—and even something as mundane as your toothbrush.
At the core of Wi-Charge’s innovation is a deceptively simple concept: deliver several watts of power using focused infrared light safely across a room. Devices that contain a receiver can draw power from a transmitter as far away as 30 feet. And it’s not merely about ditching the cords—it’s about revolutionizing how we consider the design, use, and upkeep of our gadgets.
Of course, there’s always been a worry about efficiency and sustainability. Transferring power wirelessly over distance has always had critics, principally because some energy is lost in transit. As one of its early adopters commented, it’s not the most efficient system, and existing safety restrictions mean you can’t transfer enormous amounts of energy. But here’s where it gets interesting: Wi-Charge’s system only comes on when a device requires power. In practice, it can charge something like a toothbrush for an entire year for only $1 or $2 worth of electricity, roughly the same as a standard charger. And it eliminates disposable batteries, saving waste.
There are already common scenarios where this technology is environmentally sound. Consider retail shops, for instance. Those little digital price tags? They are much greener when they’re powered wirelessly compared to when they have disposable coin cells. And though we don’t necessarily consider it, even regular charging cables have an environmental cost, from raw material mining to the energy costs of manufacturing.
Safety’s another giant piece of the puzzle, and Wi-Charge hasn’t messed around. Their technology has cleared huge safety certifications in both the US and the UK. The power beam is tightly concentrated, and it automatically deactivates if something—or someone—comes between it. So, no surprise exposure, and no safety concerns.
Momentum is building quickly. Wi-Charge recently raised $20 million in new funding to help speed up deployment across industries like hospitality, smart homes, retail, mobile tech, and wearables. “We’re opening the door to a future where wires and batteries are no longer a design constraint—where power just shows up, quietly and reliably,” said Ori Mor, the company’s Co-Founder and Chief Business Officer. Their technology is already being applied throughout the US, Europe, and Asia, powering devices from as far as 30 feet.
A very promising use case is smart locks. A prominent smart lock firm partnered with Wi-Charge to develop the first wirelessly charged locks for homes and business properties. The new smart lock, compatible with most North American doors, doesn’t involve any complicated installation or door replacement. Due to over-the-air charging, consumers no longer need to struggle with dead batteries or being locked out. As the product lead described, “As users want more sophisticated features such as perpetual connectivity and single tracking, power management tends to be the largest challenge.”. Wi-Charge’s wireless power revolutionizes the game, creating new design possibilities and addressing power constraints in the process.”
This’s not only about increased convenience. For building owners and property managers, wirelessly powered locks can integrate perfectly with remote access control systems. That equates to more secure buildings and streamlined management, without the need to rush to replace batteries or fear malfunctions from power loss. And for apartment and condo associations, remote code updates are now trouble-free, because the locks will remain charged at all times.
Wi-Charge’s journey from the lab to the real world wasn’t a fast one. It took over two decades and more than 200 patents. But today, the fantasy is a reality. “Wireless power seemed like a science fiction concept for so long, but now it’s arrived. It’s working. And it’s being used globally by companies large and small,” said Ori Mor.
From retail displays to AR glasses, from toothbrushes to smart locks, wireless power over distance is finally having its moment. The cords and disposable batteries we’ve relied on for decades are starting to feel like relics of the past.
