Dynamic Inductive Charging Research Articles

A New Cross-Overlapped Decoupling Coil Structure for EV Dynamic Inductive Wireless Charging System

A New Cross-Overlapped Decoupling Coil Structure for EV Dynamic Inductive Wireless Charging System

Numerical Study on Planning Inductive Charging Infrastructures for Electric Service Vehicles on Airport Aprons

Dynamic inductive charging is a contact-free technology to provide electric vehicles with energy while they are in motion, thus eliminating the need to conductively charge the batteries of those vehicles and, hence, the required vehicle downtimes. Airport aprons of commercial airports are potential systems to employ this charging technology to reduce aviation-induced CO2 emissions. To date, many vehicles operating on airport aprons are equipped with internal combustion engines burning diesel fuel, hence contributing to CO2 emissions and the global warming problem. However, airport aprons exhibit specific features that might make dynamic inductive charging technologies particularly interesting. It turns out that using this technology leads to some strategic infrastructure design questions for airport aprons about the spatial allocation of the required system components. In this paper, we experimentally analyze these design questions to explore under which conditions we can expect the resulting mathematical optimization problems to be relatively hard or easy to be solved, respectively, as well as the achievable solution quality. To this end, we report numerical results on a large-scale numerical study reflecting different types of spatial structures of terminals and airport aprons as they can be found at real-world airports.

An Overview of Dynamic Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles

Inductive power transfer (IPT) technology offers a promising solution for electric vehicle (EV) charging. It permits an EV to charge its energy storage system without any physical connections using magnetic coupling between inductive coils. EV inductive charging is an exemplary option due to the related merits such as: automatic operation, safety in harsh climatic conditions, interoperability, and flexibility. There are three visions to realize wireless EV charging: (i) static, in which charging occurs while EV is in long-term parking; (ii) dynamic (in-motion), which happens when EV is moving at high speed; and (iii) quasi-dynamic, which can occur when EV is at transient stops or driving at low speed. This paper introduces an extensive review for IPT systems in dynamic EV charging. It offers the state-of-the-art of transmitter design, including magnetic structure and supply arrangement. It explores and summarizes various types of compensation networks, power converters, and control techniques. In addition, the paper introduces the state-of-the-art of research and development activities that have been conducted for dynamic EV inductive charging systems, including challenges associated with the technology and opportunities to tackle these challenges. This study offers an exclusive reference to researchers and engineers who are interested in learning about the technology and highlights open questions to be addressed.

Methodical Comparison of Alternative Powertrain Technologies for Long-Distance Mobility Using Germany as an Example

The main barriers to the wide acceptance of electric vehicles, such as the limited driving range or the high acquisition costs, are to be countered by various technology alternatives for the powertrain of the future. Promising developments include improved battery technologies, fuel cell technologies or a constant power supply of the vehicle while driving, for example through dynamic inductive charging. In this context, a holistic technology comparison would contribute to a comprehensive and understandable information situation by making the heterogeneous technological concepts comparable with regard to different evaluation criteria. Therefore, this work describes the basic assumptions of the proposed holistic comparison of alternative powertrain technologies for long-distance mobility. Relevant framework conditions are structured and a procedure for the evaluation of infrastructure expenditures is shown. Building on this, a selection of key performance indicators is defined and explained. The proposed KPI framework is applied to a passenger car in the economic area Germany. The results show that by using electrified roadways, ecological as well as economic advantages against other alternative powertrain designs can be derived.

A Corridor-Based Approach to Estimating the Costs of Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure on Highways

One of the barriers holding back the large-scale development of electric vehicles is underdeveloped charging infrastructure. The optimal location of charging stations has received much attention, whereas the development of charging infrastructure over time and its economic implications remain a less explored topic, especially in the context of dynamic inductive charging. This work compares the infrastructure costs for two electric vehicle charging solutions deployed on highways: fast-charging stations and a dynamic charging lane based on wireless inductive charging technology. The deployment costs are estimated using a simplified infrastructure model for a highway corridor. The model first defines the required charging capacity based on projected future demand, sizes the charging infrastructure, and then determines the related costs, revenues, and net present value. A numerical example based on the French highway context is also presented. The results show that the payback period is much longer for dynamic charging lanes that for charging stations. In addition, the charging lane infrastructure cannot be installed gradually over time but requires a major investment from the start while bringing in little revenue early on.

Optimizing the Energy Transfer, With a High System Efficiency in Dynamic Inductive Charging of EVs

Inductive charging is based on the operating principles of a transformer; energy is transferred through an air-gap from a primary coil incorporated in the charging station to a secondary coil incorporated in the electric vehicle (EV). Dynamic inductive charging allows the vehicle to wirelessly receive energy while moving on the road and appears to be an ideal solution for the increase of the limited travel range of EVs. However, currently developed dynamic inductive power transfer (IPT) solutions limit the application of this method when the EV rapidly moves over the charging station. The aim of this paper is to propose a novel optimization procedure, in order to define the values for the variables involved in the electrical operation of a dynamic IPT system. The optimization procedure considers constraints associated with the operational conditions in the primary and secondary sides of the IPT system, in order to define the movement section, where the energy transferred to the EV is maximized at a considerably high system efficiency. The values derived from the optimization method are implemented in the control of the secondary side of the IPT system. Moreover, a control method is proposed that effectively eliminates the need for a detection mechanism and the continuous data transfer between the primary and secondary side. The suggested control scheme requires the operation of the charging station at a low-efficiency movement section without significant energy losses in this specific section. The proposed optimization procedure is applied in the case of a 60-cm-diameter circular pad, and the suggested control scheme is validated by simulating the operation of the dynamic IPT system over the whole EV movement range. An experimental setup has been used to study the application of the optimization procedure and investigate the effective operation of the system.

Review on plug-in electric vehicle charging architectures integrated with distributed energy sources for sustainable mobility

In this review, the aim is to present a complete outlook for innovative charging infrastructures. In a real smart grid scenario, these infrastructures are candidates to support the integration of electric and hybrid mobility with distributed energy sources. In this paper, at the outset, an analysis of the scientific and technical literature about main international standards and classifications has been provided. Also taken into consideration in this analysis are the expected challenges related to charging technologies for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, giving specific details on current and possible future trends for both stationary and dynamic inductive charging systems. In particular, for each charging level, traditional and more innovative power electronic architectures—equipped with the new technologies that support both slow and fast conductive charging operations for the new-generation road vehicle–have been reported, described and analysed in detail. The analysis has been conducted through a comparison of power architectures, in terms of efficiency, scalability and charging power/time of the vehicle battery packs. Specific attention has also been devoted to off-board DC fast-charging architectures, which play a fundamental role in the integration of stationary energy storage systems and renewable energy sources with the main grid. Finally, in this review, a wide range of the most interesting applications, technical experiences and international pilot projects have been summarized and discussed, with specific references to the new technologies mentioned above. The overview reported in this paper highlights the importance of a proper charging infrastructure, in combination with next generation energy storage technologies, to support the large-scale diffusion of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

Strategy for the maintenance and monitoring of electric road infrastructures based on recursive lifetime prediction

Wireless charging is an attractive technology that is expected to promote customer acceptance of electric vehicles since it can improve convenience and sustainability. The dynamic properties and the long-term structural behavior of these particular infrastructures call for in depth investigations, to define specific requirements for the installation of the system, as well as for its maintenance, lifecycle analysis and monitoring. Currently, several technologies exist that integrate dynamic inductive charging systems within the infrastructure, ranging from rails with box-section to buried solutions. A wide-range discussion is provided on how to assess the structural performance of electric roads (e-roads), including numerical strategies for the estimation of their lifetime. Structural health monitoring (SHM) strategies for e-roads will be then outlined. Indeed, a SHM strategy integrated with lifecycle management is essential to calibrate structural assessment and prediction, to optimize the maintenance of infrastructure and, possibly, to operate infrastructure systems beyond their original design life. Finally, results of simulations are presented for the e-road solution.

Impact of dynamic and static fast inductive charging of electric vehicles on the distribution network

Fast inductive charging technologies allow the exchange of high power quantities (>20kW) between an Electric Vehicle and the electrical grid in contactless way. This demand can significantly modify the load profile of a distribution network and affect its operation and planning. Thus, it is necessary to quantify the grid impact of a network of fast inductive chargers and define the maximum allowable deployment level which does not violate the technical constraints of the network. This paper introduces a methodology for grid impact analysis of fast inductive charging technologies into distribution networks. The proposed methodology is implemented in a realistic model of a Greek MV distribution feeder providing indicative qualitative and quantitative results.

A Computational Methodology for Assessing the Time‐Dependent Structural Performance of Electric Road Infrastructures

AbstractAn infrastructure adapted to dynamic wireless recharging of electric vehicles is often referred to generically as Electric Road (“e‐road”). E‐roads are deemed to become essential components of future grid environments and smart city strategies. Several technologies already exist that propose different ways to integrate dynamic inductive charging systems within the infrastructure. One e‐road solution uses a very thin rail with box‐section made of fibre‐reinforced polymer, inside which an electric current flows producing a magnetic field. In spite of the great interest and research generated by recharging technologies, the structural problems of e‐roads, including vibrations and structural integrity in the short and/or long period, have received relatively little attention to date. This article presents a novel computational methodology for assessing the time‐dependent structural performance of e‐roads, including a recursive strategy for the estimation of the lifetime of surface layers. The article also reports some numerical findings about e‐roads that will drive further numerical analyses and experimental studies on this novel type of infrastructure. Finally, numerical simulations have been conducted to compare an e‐road with a traditional road (“t‐road”), in terms of static, dynamic and fatigue behavior.

Cutting the Cord: Static and Dynamic Inductive Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicles

In this article, we have reviewed the state of the art of IPT systems and have explored the suitability of the technology to wirelessly charge battery powered vehicles. the review shows that the IPT technology has merits for stationary charging (when the vehicle is parked), opportunity charging (when the vehicle is stopped for a short period of time, for example, at a bus stop), and dynamic charging (when the vehicle is moving along a dedicated lane equipped with an IPT system). Dynamic wireless charging holds promise to partially or completely eliminate the overnight charging through a compact network of dynamic chargers installed on the roads that would keep the vehicle batteries charged at all times, consequently reducing the range anxiety and increasing the reliability of EVs. Dynamic charging can help lower the price of EVs by reducing the size of the battery pack. Indeed, if the recharging energy is readily available, the batteries do not have to support the whole driving range but only supply power when the IPT system is not available. Depending on the power capability, the use of dynamic charging may increase driving range and reduce the size of the battery pack.