Wireless charging is expected to relieve the "mileage anxiety" of EV| World tide of technological innovation

Tag: new energy vehicle; EV; wireless charging; driverless buses

       One of the biggest obstacles to the promotion of electric vehicles is charging, or the lack of charging infrastructure. There is widespread "mileage anxiety" among car owners, who are worried about running out of electricity and being trapped away from the charging station of electric vehicles. However, what if the car doesn't need a charging pile at all?

        According to a report recently published by Nikkei Asia, roads with built-in wireless charging technology have been tested in Japan, and may become a practical facility by 2025.

         At the Dalin Group Research Center of Tokyo Construction Company, Japan, electric vehicles can travel at a speed of 15 kilometers per hour on this road. Uninterrupted electronic coils are buried under the road surface, and separate coils are installed inside the electric vehicle. Using magnetic field induction, current can be generated in the coils of the vehicle. The concrete used on the pavement is reinforced with fiber to increase its durability. 24/7 driverless buses will be one of the main beneficiaries of this breakthrough technology.

         However, the report added that this technology is still far from perfect. It points out that wireless charging is not as effective as using traditional cables due to transmission loss.

At present, not only in Japan, but also in many countries and regions, enterprises and institutions have carried out research on wireless charging of electric vehicles, trying to fundamentally solve the problem of "mileage anxiety".

(Volvo Cars tests new wireless charging technology in Sweden. Image source: American Auto World website)

       In 2020, Israel installed a wireless charging cable on a 600-meter-long road. This technology is being tested, and if all tests are successful, it will be built into an 18km bus lane between the city and the airport.

       In June of this year, Italy built a 1.05km dedicated wireless charging road to demonstrate dynamic wireless power transmission. This road is equipped with electric wires in the asphalt pavement, and vehicles can collect electricity through special receivers. When the car is running at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour, it can be charged at a speed of 1.5 kilometers per kilometer.

        In 2023, a 1.6-kilometer wireless charging road will be put into use in Detroit, USA, and this road will be renovated. At that time, cars with special receivers installed at the bottom of the car will be able to charge while driving on the road.

  Like many other emerging technologies that are gradually entering the mainstream market, in-vehicle wireless charging is not yet mature and still faces many technical problems to be overcome.