WAVE launches ultra-fast charging system for Tesla Semi

According to foreign media reports, in the Earnings Call Update Letter for the second quarter of 2021 released in late July, Tesla revealed that despite the delays in plans due to battery limitations and supply chain bottlenecks, its related charging system technology is still developing. Ideanomics subsidiary Wireless Advanced Vehicle Electrification (WAVE) has launched an extremely fast charging system that can provide 500 kW and 1 MW of power for Semi, and does not require cables or wires. It can be directly implanted in the road and provide power without being plugged in.

(Image source: Tesla)

WAVE mainly develops high-power inductive charging solutions for medium and heavy-duty vehicles, and Tesla Semi may be one of the first vehicles to use this technology. WAVE said that the ultra-fast charging system is a subcategory of the company's main 250 kW business. Its goal is to develop 500 kW and 1 MW wireless electric vehicle chargers for large commercial vehicles, using a primary coil embedded in the road and a receiving coil in the truck, and then using a magnetic field to transmit power. Among them, the magnetic field is powered by a high-frequency AC current generated by a resonant inverter to power the charging coil. The energy from the underground coil can be transmitted to the truck for charging without being plugged in.

WAVE also specifically mentioned the advantages of the system and how it could benefit the Tesla Semi. Current state-of-the-art trailer charging capabilities are primarily conductive chargers. The recently announced Tesla Semi concept design claims a maximum range of 500 miles and a goal of 80% charge in 30 minutes. The battery pack is estimated to be at least 800 kWh (likely higher at full load and all conditions), and the target charge rate is around 1.5 MW. In collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy, the system for charging electric trailers at extremely fast charging power levels will become the fastest charger.

WAVE’s recently developed wireless charging system can be used to charge buses, transmitting up to 250 kW of power over a distance of 250 mm, or 10 inches. In addition, the system uses a scalable modular approach, which can increase power levels to 500 kW. Therefore, with this system, the above goals are likely to be achieved. WAVE can achieve higher power levels by increasing the power rating and density of the electronics and coil design, so the system may also be applicable to "many urban applications" and will not be a technology exclusive to Class 8 vehicles.

Tesla has been developing Megachargers for the Semi for years and has achieved some success before the vehicle was released. In 2017, at the unveiling of the Semi, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that Tesla would install a global network of solar-powered superchargers (Megachargers) that can charge for 400 miles in 30 minutes. Output of more than 1 MW will make this possible. But in order to avoid the potential dangers of high energy output, Tesla uses a liquid-cooled charging connector.