This new 20 Kilowatt wireless charging system for EVs may make “plugging-in” obsolete. Wireless charging of Electric Vehicles is become a more viable and affordable option. The current model can deliver 20 Kilowatts and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory is planning to make a more powerful charger for buses and trucks. (Image via: Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
Researchers at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have just innovated a wireless charger for Electric Vehicles (EV) that can transfer up to 20 Killowatts of power with about 90% efficiency; this is almost as efficient as plugging an EV into an outlet. Of course, this is from testing the charger in optimal conditions, so results may vary from home-use. As wireless charging becomes more in demand and cheaper, these wireless chargers may become more popular.
Also, Madhu Chinthavali, the ORNL Power Electronics Team Leader, has even bigger plans than just creating consumer grade wireless chargers for EVs. He is envisioning how an even more powerful wireless charger can be used to power-up public buses and trucks on-the-go. This current model is just the beginning, as Chinthavali reveals a next plan to create a wireless EV charger that can deliver 50 kilowatts of energy effectively without losing energy in the process.
Their current tests have been completed with a Toyota Rav4 with a 10 killowatt hour battery. This latest invention is the first in it’s kind for passenger vehicles. It’s the latest in a long line of inventions stemming from the government’s push to reduce foreign oil dependance by switching consumers to electric energy sources. The current thoughts in renewable energy seem to try to make the switch as easy and convenient as possible.
In the realm of convenience and practicality, another problem with EVs is that you have to stop to charge them, which rules out long-distance trips. In fact, even a trip from work back home may make some drivers nervous about having enough charge to make it.
Hence, with the public transportation system utilizing lots of gas in many American towns and cities, Chinthavali thinks that having wireless charging pads at bus stops which give these vehicles enough charge to get from stop to stop can be a viable way to quell concerns. While their current model cannot deliver enough energy for larger vehicles, their new 50 kilowatt wireless charger will begin to answer the question. However, once they are able to efficiently deliver 50 kilowatts of energy, they will try to make a rapid charger that would have the ability to deliver enough charge to a bus or truck while they load and unload passengers or cargo. It definitely seems to be a good idea, but how would it stand up in practice?
For now, while the ORNL’s results are really promising, plugging-in is still a faster and more efficient way to charge an EV. But, in future it looks like researchers and designers will change that. However, I wonder how much more convenient using wireless chargers is compared to alternatives. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to design a higher capacity battery for EVs that can prolong their time in transit?
Also, just how safe it is to have wireless chargers delivering 20-50 kilowatts just laying the the streets? While they are assuring it is safe, I have doubts about how safe something with such a high magnetic field will work in practice out in the elements susceptible to water, traffic, thunderstorms, and potential malfunction.
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