Research is leading to wireless charging technology for EVs.
Electric charging is made easier
Engineers Race to Develop Wireless EV Charging Technology
Researchers at the University of Alto in Finland have developed a new method of power transfer, which can charge devices that need to be moved without the need for messy cables or plugs. Wireless charging tiles are placed on a large surface such as the warehouse floor so that the devices can be powered from any level. If scaled up, technology can be applied to power electric vehicles while on the road.
New wireless power transfer technology can charge electric vehicles on the go
Image: Prasad Jayathuratnage / Alto University
In collaboration with Finnish firm Soltech Robotics, the research team tested the design with commercial warehouse robots. “Getting this technology out of the lab and working in the warehouse is an exciting moment for me personally,” says Prasad Jayaturatna, a postdoctoral researcher who heads the project. I finally got ten years of research out of the lab.
As well as enterprise and transportation applications, new technology can also be used to improve everyday life. ‘Take kitchen equipment for example,’ he continued to Jayaturatna. ‘At this time, you need to place a rice cooker or a blender in a certain place to get the energy. But with our technology we can make the entire kitchen counter a source of energy for appliances or phones, but the electromagnetic field is only generated under devices.
New wireless power transfer technology can charge electric vehicles in retail robot’s gourless charging at test site
Image: Prasad Jayathuratnage / Alto University
This is how it works
As the recent press release explained, the transmitters are mounted on a grid, and the current in the neighbouring transmitters moves in the opposite direction, creating a chessboard-like grid of ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ transmitting coils with magnetic flux between them. The receiver then captures the magnetic flux between the positive and negative transmitters, which generates a current to charge the device.
The system operates without any positional tracking or communication between receivers and transmitters. This means that power is transferred to the receiver rather than the entire area, making it possible to charge several devices at once. When tested, the researchers found that the devices charge smoothly even when moving.
New Wireless Power Transfer Technology Charges Electric Vehicles on Charging Tiles Like a Mobile Warehouse Device
‘The beauty of our method is that it is very simple but quite sophisticated,’ he says to Jayaturatna. ‘We don’t need high-end processors or enough calculations to make transmitters intelligent. At the end of the day, this is all electromagnetic systems and our method is to find out how we can electromagnetism the presence and position of the receiver.
The next challenge is to increase the power level from about 1 kW to about 20 kW so that technology can be used to charge EVs. ‘There are practical plans for electrification of roads around the world,’ he tells Jayaturatna. ‘Electric vehicles are a really good application of this technology.
FAQ
Can electric cars be charged wirelessly?
Pluggles is the only company that provides wireless charging for many EVs on the road today. The Plugless System is a premium accessory available in four EVs, covering nearly half the North American EV market and making wireless charging available to more than a quarter million EV drivers in the US today.
What is wireless charging in vehicles?
Wireless charging in vehicles is an embedded component embedded within the vehicle that can wirelessly charge smartphones, wearables and any Qi-enabled device. The system uses induction coils to create an electromagnetic field that transfers energy from the transmitter unit to the receiver unit.
How many varieties of wi-fi charging are there?
There are 7 varieties of Wireless Charging Types.
Is a wi-fi energy switch possible?
Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) systems allow the transfer of power from one power network to another without the need for wires or open connections.
Which technology is preferred for cordless charging in EV?
Inductive charging (additionally referred to as wi-fi charging or cordless charging) is a sort of wi-fi energy switch. It makes use of electromagnetic induction to offer energy to transportable gadgets.
How powerful is wi-fi charging?
In my tests, I found that wireless charging consumed an average of 47% more power than cable. Average 14.26 watt-hours (Wh.
What is Conductive Power Transfer?
Carrier wireless charging or simply carrier charging uses inductive power transfer to eliminate wires between the charger and the charging device. … Carrier power transfer uses a conductor to connect two electronic devices in order to transfer energy.
How can I enable wireless charging?
Enable fast wireless charging
You can discover it in your battery settings. The vicinity can range from version to version. On my Samsung phone, you may discover it beneath neath Settings -> Device Care -> Battery -> Charging.
Why do we want wi-fi energy transfers?
Wireless transmission is beneficial for energy gadgets in which interconnecting wires is inconvenient, risky or impossible.
Wireless power transfer technology reduces the use of electrical wire made of copper and aluminium metal. The metal used to make electrical wires will be destroyed in the future
Does Wireless Charging Use More Power?
Does Wireless Charging Use More Power? Yes, the wireless charger uses more power than the cable to fully charge the smartphone.
What is EV charging technology?
The batteries are charged with DC power. To charge from the AC power supplied by the electrical grid, EVs have the smallest AC-to-DC converter in the vehicle. The charging cable supplies AC power from the wall and the vehicle converts this energy to DC and charges its battery.
What are the disadvantages of wireless charging?
But there are a few negative aspects of wi-fi charging. It’s slow: wireless charging usually takes 30-80% more time to fully charge your device than cable. Remember: How you place your device on the mat can affect how long it takes to charge.
What is the difference between carrier and inductive charging?
Aftermarket backs for inductive charging include the induction coil, which is capable of receiving wireless power. Carrier charging, on the other hand, operates with a direct electrical connection between the power source and the battery.
What is Resonant Charging?
Resonant charging is a wireless charging method for large volumes of electricity.
Can electric cars be charged wirelessly?
Pluggles is the only company that provides wireless charging for many EVs on the road today.
Does Wireless Charging Destroy a Credit Card?
The wireless charger does not damage it. However it can damage the magnetic strip used to swipe the card. If your card is on tap go ahead and recharge your credit card. Yes, you read that your card has a flat capacitor wireless charger receiver and transmitter.
Does Wireless Charging Harm Your Phone?
Wireless charging can ruin iPhone and Android phone battery life: a scientific study A scientific investigation from the University of Warwick has found that charging your phone with induction can harm its battery life.
Sources Prasad Jayaturatn / University of Alto / designboom.com
