Audi, Nissan and Voyah have announced the creation of the Matrix Charging Interest Group (MCIG) to establish a standard for conductive automatic charging. The technology relies on direct physical contact between a ground-mounted charging plate and a contact pad beneath the vehicle. According to the companies, efficiency reaches 99.8 percent, placing it among the most effective ways to replenish an EV’s battery. A figure like that speaks to a pragmatic focus on real-world performance rather than novelty.

The system is developed by Austria’s Easelink, which has been trialing the technology since 2016. In Vienna and Graz, 66 electric taxis equipped with Matrix Charging were put to the test, demonstrating suitability for daily use. Licenses are offered on terms that allow manufacturers to adapt the solution to their own models. Using taxi fleets as a proving ground is telling: intense duty cycles tend to expose weaknesses quickly, so successful trials hint at robustness.

MCIG will oversee the rollout of a standardized interface and coordinate with international bodies ISO and IEC. Automakers expect that a conductive setup will streamline the charging experience and become part of future EV infrastructure. With the market expanding, they are aiming to make the process more convenient to accelerate the shift toward zero-emission mobility. If the group succeeds in harmonizing interfaces early, the route to broader deployment looks notably clearer for drivers and fleet operators alike.