Electromobility
Wireless charging with 120 kW
Wireless charging is already a reality for smartphones, but still a vision for electromobility. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have now succeeded in transmitting 120 kW over a distance of 15 cm.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have increased the transmitted power of their wireless charging system for vehicles sixfold. With the 120 kW now achieved over a distance of 15 cm (6 inches), they believe they have taken a big step towards charging times that can match the speed and convenience of refueling with gasoline or diesel. The efficiency is 97 percent, which is comparable to conventional wired fast chargers. This demonstration furthers the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) goal of developing a system that delivers 350 kW to 400 kW and reduces electric vehicle charging time to 15 minutes or less.
"We used the finite element method and circuit analysis to develop a novel co-optimization method. This allowed us to solve the coil design challenges while ensuring that the system does not overheat or have safety issues," says Veda Galigekere, describing the challenge. Galigekere is project manager of the Power Electronics and Electric Machinery Group at ORNL. The team used a coil design that was optimized in conjunction with the latest silicon carbide (SiC) power semiconductors.
The researchers are now working on new solutions to increase the transmission power to 200 kW and ultimately 350 kW, while at the same time optimizing dynamic wireless charging technology. With such dynamic charging technology, electric vehicles can be charged automatically via pads installed under the roadway. But higher power systems are needed to minimize the cost and complexity of dynamic charging. "Our goal is dynamic charging while driving on the highway," explains Galigekere.
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