Charging priorities for electric vehicles

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more and more popular and seem like a more efficient and economical way of getting around. However, what about the technology which is focused on charging an electric vehicle as it travels around and not standing still?

Surely a breakthrough in dynamic charging would make EVs even more attractive as an option than they already are, and would it eliminate range anxiety?

Qualcomm thinks that is the way to go, and have demonstrated a dynamic electric vehicle charging (DEVC) system. Qualcomm Technologies announced the testing of the wireless DEVC system that involves charging from the road surface.

Reuters reported Thursday that the dynamic charging test took place in France. Reuters said that the test involved two Renault Kangoo vehicles driving over embedded pads. A charge was transferred to the car batteries at up to 20kW at highway speeds.

Qualcomm Technologies demonstrated simultaneous charging, in which two vehicles on the same track can charge dynamically at the same time. The vehicles can pick up charge in both directions along the track, and in reverse.

This was a 100m test track.

“This test road is modular,” said The Drive, “with four power supplies – one for each 25m section. Each length has 14 sub-modules which contain magnets and power conversion circuitry. The test vehicles were equipped with receivers in the underbody to magnetically pick up the charge and convert it to DC power.”

Mike Kissin, Director of Engineering, Qualcomm New Zealand, said they have technology that speaks to the power conversion, magnetics, control and communications and safety.

He said they split the project into three phases: concept design and prototyping in Auckland; the manufacturing in Munich; finally, installation and testing in France.

In theory, the idea is quite attractive as it implies the vehicle could run indefinitely. In practice, MIT Technology Review raised questions about costs. Still, said the article, the idea might make sense in bus routes with standardized routes and it may make sense for ‘robotic taxi fleets,’ if they stick to well defined routes, “and only deviate from charging strips for a mile or two at a time.”

Lee Mathews in Geek.com also raised the consideration of costs: “One major hurdle that has to be overcome before we’ll be taking advantage of an inductive road. It’s a tad on the expensive side right now.”

Mathews, however, said the picture could change: “Things in the EV world are changing at an incredibly rapid pace, though, and Korea actually did something similar for electric buses four years ago… so it could happen sooner than we think.”