Top Engineers Produce Wireless EV Charging Innovations in InductEV's Research Lab
In August 2023, InductEV opened the nation's first Research & Development Center devoted exclusively to high-power, high-speed wireless charging for EVs and commercial fleets. The company announced the new 50,000 sq. ft. facility in King of Prussia, PA at its first annual "Unwired" conference. The event occurred on August 2, attended by over 120 automotive, EV charging, commercial fleet industry executives, analysts, investors, and vendors. InductEV provides high-power plugless EV charging for large electric commercial vehicles.
A key part of the "Unwired" event included tours of InductEV's research lab, where the company's engineering team has made significant advances in wireless EV charging. From generation one to generation two, the company increased power capabilities by 50% (50 to 75kW) while decreasing size and weight by 70%. Because of these advances, InductEV is now considered by experts in the industry to be the leading global wireless electric vehicle charging company.
How does plugless EV charging work?
When wirelessly charging an EV, the energy travels via magnetic induction from a pad in the ground (called a ground unit) to a receiving unit on the underbelly of the EV. An "air gap" is the space between the EV and pad, where power travels wirelessly through the air through a principle of magnetic induction pioneered originally in the 1800’s. Vehicles that charge wirelessly include a display in the dash of the vehicles, which indicates power delivery progress and alignment to the charging system. Charging is handled automatically and autonomously without requiring a driver to plug in a charging cord. Experts in the EV charging industry believe wireless will eventually become the standard, eliminating wires and doing away with the need for the driver to plug in to charge their vehicle.
Amazing demonstrations of plugless EV charging
Tours of the research lab included demonstrations by InductEV's engineers and leaders on how plugless EV charging works. Visitors were amazed to see real-time reporting of customers' energy usage on big-screen TVs. Attendees were delighted to see a demonstration of charging an electric van when parked over one of InductEV's wireless charging pads. As the van moved into position over the ground unit, a display showed the onlookers the immediate transfer of wireless power to the vehicle. This demonstration clearly showed the convenience of plugless EV charging, just one of the many reasons why wireless EV charging is superior to plugged EV charging.
(Image: Tony Calabro, Chief Product Officer, InductEV, demonstrates InductEV’s amazing wireless electric vehicle technology inside the company’s impressive research lab.)
InductEV's plugless EV charging advantages
Wireless EV charging by InductEV has many benefits. Those include an energy efficiency comparable to conductive chargers, up to 90% or more. Multiple vehicle types and power levels can use the same charging pads. The units are easy to maintain, with no moving parts and low maintenance. Fleets can operate continuously during their routes with high duty cycle, with no swapping out of vehicles required. The units are modular and scalable. InductEV's products are a part of recognized standards, operating within guidelines from IEEE, UL, ICNIRP, and European C.E.
Wireless EV charging works through rain, ice, or snow at any outdoor temperature. This allows drivers to stay in their vehicles while charging instead of being outside in the elements. With new labor rules going into effect at ports and other transportation facilities, drivers are prohibited from plugging in their soon to be electric vehicles, making inductive wireless charging the only choice. Wireless EV charging by InductEV offers better economic returns. Wireless charging has a signiciant return on investment, total cost of ownership and operating expense advantage over wired charging. With wireless charging, operational expenses are reduced by nearly 50% annually, and the total cost of ownership is about 30% lower. The technology is safer than plugged charging, without the fear of cords and cables degrading over time and becoming unsafe.
InductEV leads the industry in innovative patents
One important reason for the engineering team's success at InductEV is the innovative patents that the company has filed. In May 2023, InductEV announced four additional U.S. patents issued or allowed by the U.S. Patent Office. These patents are based on the innovation and real-world commercial experience that InductEV has gained from its customers scaling its wireless charging systems worldwide.
(Image: CEO Barry Libert speaks to the attendees of “Unwired,” InductEV’s event attended by over 120 automotive, EV charging, commercial fleet industry executives, analysts, investors, and vendors. Photo courtesy of BillPierce.net )
Some of InductEV's recently filed patents include:
"Near Field, Full Duplex Data Link for Resonant Inductive Wireless Charging" improves direct communications between the vehicle assembly and battery management system and the ground assembly of the charger.
"Current Sensing in a Wireless Power Transfer System" allows for wireless current measurement while maintaining high efficiency and operation of the wireless power transfer system.
"Contactless Swappable Battery System" offers a potential major advancement in a range of vehicle and non-vehicle applications where swappable batteries are an attractive alternative.
"Efficiency Gains Through Magnetic Field Management" led to alternative power transfer coil designs that raise power transfer efficiency while simultaneously reducing both size and material usage.
InductEV, the global wireless EV charging leader
InductEV specializes in wireless EV charging for large trucks, buses, and other electric commercial vehicles. The InductEV engineering team has deep knowledge of wireless EV charging. Contact the team today.
Written by Bill Pierce, Publisher EVinfo.net