Wireless Electric Vehicle Car Charging: No Plug Required Tested at Idaho National Labs

Soon, drivers of electric vehicles may only need to park to begin charging their batteries.

Idaho National Laboratory researchers recently released independent testing results of a wireless charging system designed for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs). The system tested, Evatran’s Plugless Level 2 Charging System, uses inductive technology to wirelessly charge a PEV’s traction battery, which powers the vehicle.

"Technology in the electric vehicle market continues to evolve quite rapidly," said Jim Francfort, INL’s principal investigator for advanced technology vehicles.

"Our researchers performed 2,600 separate tests of Evatran’s Plugless Level 2 Charging System, which included testing at different distances and varying alignments," he said.

INL continues to conduct independent testing of PEVs and charging systems. The Plugless system is the first wireless power transfer technology to be independently documented and published.

The tests, which documented efficiency results, magnetic and electric fields and overall system performance, are published at: http://avt.inel.gov/pdf/evse/EvatranWirelessChargingFactsheetAug2013.pdf Evatran supported the testing process with engineering input.

Normally, PEV owners must charge their vehicles by using a power cable that connects the vehicle’s charging port to external electric power supply equipment. The Plugless system allows a driver to simply park in a designated parking location over the charging coil, which is either installed on the ground or embedded under the surface, to start the charging process.

In addition to avoiding the plug-in process, the Plugless system includes parking guidance technology that directs the PEV driver toward optimal alignment and foreign object detection technology to protect against ferrous materials.

"This emerging technology offers the potential for much higher charging participation resulting in more electric miles being driven, helping to reduce our nation’s dependency on foreign oil," Francfort said.

INL is expected to continue testing wireless charging technologies with industry participation. Industry, DOE and INL are also conducting research into dynamic vehicle charging technologies that will use wireless power transfer technologies for possibly charging vehicles while they are driven on roadways.

INL is one of the DOE’s 10 multiprogram national laboratories. The laboratory performs work in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and environment. INL is the nation’s leading center for nuclear energy research and development. Day-to-day management and operation of the laboratory is the responsibility of Battelle Energy Alliance.

See more INL news at http://www.inl.gov. Follow @INL on Twitter or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/IdahoNationalLaboratory.

For more information on the Plugless system, visit http://www.pluglesspower.com.