Researchers release Evatran wireless charging evaluation data

    Researchers at the Idaho National Laboratory recently released independent test results of a wireless charging system developed specifically for plug-in electric vehicles. The system tested is called the Evatran Plugless Generation 2 Charging System, which has a power of 3.3 kilowatts and uses induction technology to wirelessly charge the battery pack that powers the electric vehicle. The Plugless Charging System is recognized as the first product to use wireless energy transfer technology.

    Researchers at the Idaho lab conducted 2,600 independent tests on the Evatran Plugless wireless charging system, including charging performance tests of the charging system and electric vehicles at different distances and orientations. But such a large number of tests is not the end, and the Idaho lab will continue to conduct various tests on electric vehicles and charging systems. The test results cover a series of data such as effectiveness, magnetic field, electric field, and system performance.

    The Plugless wireless charging system consists of four parts: the control panel and power electronic components, which are used to connect to industrial or civilian wires and sockets; the primary coil; the vehicle secondary coil; and the vehicle adapter and power electronic components. The system efficiency is defined as the ratio of the energy flowing out of the vehicle adapter to the energy flowing into the control panel.

    In addition to eliminating the trouble of using wires for traditional charging, the Plugless wireless charging system also uses parking assistance technology to guide the driver to park the electric vehicle in the appropriate position to obtain the best relative orientation angle between the vehicle and the charging system to achieve the desired charging effect. In addition, the foreign object detection technology used effectively eliminates the interference of iron materials on the charging process.

Effect of the distance between the primary coil and the secondary coil on the charging efficiency

    The Idaho Laboratory is expected to cooperate with some related industry companies to promote future wireless charging system testing. Related companies, the government Department of Energy and the Idaho Laboratory will also conduct research on dynamic vehicle charging technology, hoping to charge vehicles on the road through wireless energy transfer technology.

    Wireless charging is an emerging technology that has great potential to increase the range of electric vehicles and help reduce dependence on traditional petroleum fuels.

    The test performance data of the Plugless wireless charging system is shown in the table: