US lab achieves wireless EV charging as effective as routine plug-in options
image courtesy of oak ridge national laboratory (ORNL)

 

 

 

in oak ridge tennessee, united states department of energy’s oak ridge national laboratory (ORNL) achieved a 20kW wireless charging system that is 90% efficient at three times the rate of plug-in chargers routinely used for electric vehicles today. providing the same speed with the convenience of wireless charging could increase consumer acceptance of electric vehicles and is considered a key facilitator for hands-free, autonomous vehicles. 

 

‘we have made tremendous progress from the lab proof-of-concept experiments a few years ago,’ explains madhu chinthavali, ORNL power electronics team lead. ‘we have set a path forward that started with solid engineering, design, scale-up and integration into several toyota vehicles. we now have a technology that is moving closer to being ready for the market.’

 


video courtesy ORNL

 

 

 

the lab’s power electronics team developed an unique design that included a custom built inverter, isolation transformer, vehicles-side electronics and coupling technologies in less than three years. for the demonstration, researchers integrated the single converter system into an electric toyota ‘RAV4’ equipped with an additional 10kW hour battery. 

 

‘wireless power transfer is a paradigm shift in electric vehicle charging that offers the consumer an autonomous, safe, efficient and convenient option to plug-in charging,’ explains david smith, vehicle systems program manager. ‘the technology demonstrated today is a stepping stone toward electrified roadways where vehicles could charge on the go.’