Electric Vehicles are using electrical induction go as far back as the late 19th century and early 20th century. A lot of advancements have been made, but its popularity skyrocketed when developers added the feature of wireless charging.
Every time a pickup-installed electric vehicle stops or pauses above the pad, an alternating current is fed into the pad and induced in the pickup. A rectifier will then convert the current that is used to recharge the car’s battery.
Now, the invention that captured the attention of different industries will go through another milestone. With help from Qualcomm Technologies, a manufacturer of digital wireless services and products, the electric vehicle may soon charge while moving from one place to another.
Electric vehicles are required to stop over a technologically-engineered pad to have wireless charging, but thanks to tech from Qualcomm and a test run by VEDECOM, electric cars have the chance to recharge even while in transit.
Stepping into the Next Level
Qualcomm just started testing their new system for electric vehicles this year. The system, called Halo Dynamic Electric Vehicle Charging (Halo DEVC), is installed into the FABRIC, a 100-meter (328-foot) unique track that cuts out the need for the electric vehicle to pause or stop at charging stations.
VEDECOM, an institute in France, committed to sustainable, carbon-free, and individual mobility, developed FABRIC technology. Their tests are currently on a preliminary trial stage at Satory Military Vehicles in Versailles, France.
According to Luc Marbach, the CEO of VEDECOM, “The installation of one of the world’s first DEVC test platforms has provided us with a unique test facility, and we look forward to expanding our expertise with the future testing.”
The European Commission mostly funded the trial for 9 million Euros. Qualcomm and VEDECOM used two Renault Kangoo electric vehicles for the test that also involved 25 partners across Europe.
Where Did It Start?
The hunger for an upgrade all started with electrical induction, which is the underlying principle behind the method of wireless charging. Michael Faraday, a famous English scientist, discovered the electromagnetic induction or most commonly known as electrical induction.
Wireless Charging is using plugs and cables, which is why electrical induction was presented as an alternative. For the method of wireless charging, there should be a flat case containing a copper wire that is wrapped around a ferrite, which can then increase the magnetic field, and then a suitable pickup coil is placed under an Electric Vehicle.
Every time a pickup-installed electric vehicle stops or pauses above the pad, an alternating current is fed into the pad and induced in the pickup. A rectifier will then convert the current that is used to recharge the car’s battery.
Because most vehicle manufacturers have not yet installed such pickups for their Electric Vehicle, it is currently a do-it-yourself (DIY) business. The following companies are the ones that embraced the process of fitting pickup coils under electric vehicles:
- Evatran Group – Evatran, commonly known as Plugless, is a firm that manufactures and designs wireless charging stations for EVs. Rebecca Hough heads the Virginia-based company as the CEO. For just between $2,500 and $4,000, people can already purchase kits comprised of both the pickup and pad.
- HEVO – The New York-based company develops sustainable wireless charging system for EVs. They can install pickups for only $3,000. HEVO envisions wireless charging utilizing creating networks of pads in different cities.
- WiTricity Corporation – Alex Gruzen is the CEO of the Massachusetts-based company. Since 2007, the firm builds wireless charging components to enable wireless power transfer over a distance with just using magnetic resonance. The pickup designs of WiTricity was also licensed to car companies such as Toyota, TDK, and Delphi.
Companies that are helping the industry of electric vehicles doesn’t just cater to cars because they also ventured into monster vehicles and buses.
Things do not have to stay the same, considering that innovation is continuous. The fact that earlier practice of wireless charging is no different from the plug-in method, electrical induction can change the game of wireless charging to an electric vehicle.
Together, Qualcomm and VEDECOM show what the future of charging electric vehicles would look like. If successful, the trial could make a bold impact on creating more roads that are capable of charging electric cars.
