Electric Vehicle future technology that will change the game
Electric Vehicle Future Technology: You must know
The Electric Vehicle industry is in rapidly changing phase now. All the technologies have been upgraded if we compare it with the technology we had 10 years back. But along with the progress we have also created some problem which are very new for us and those are creating obstacle in the growth of new electric vehicle market. There are some upcoming future electric vehicle technology which are going to revolutionize the whole world. Let’s know about those all the technologies here-
Wireless Charging
The wireless electric charging technology for electric cars might be new for India but it is already in use at other places. Under this technology, the electric current is transferred by creating a magnetic field between a transmitting pad on the ground and a receiving pad located under the vehicle. This system is more than 90% efficient while charging.
The wireless charging for electric vehicle is suggested to implement into four different phases. Residential Systems, Wireless charging in parking lots, On street parking spaces and Dynamic wireless charging systems embedded into highways.
For the Residential Grade wireless charging system is already developed by some of the companies in US and other countries.
US department of energy sponsored the OAK RIDGE National Laboratory which demonstrated the wireless charging system of an output of 120kW. In addition, the same team is working to develop the wireless charging output up-to 350kW. This much of power will charge the electric vehicle in just 15 minutes.
Dynamic Charging System
Qualcomm technology has already developed and showcased the dynamic charging system on highway. Through this technology any electric vehicle will get charge while running on highway. Above all this technology will support the contact-less dynamic charging up to the vehicle speed of 110 km per hour.
A demonstration project from QUALCOMM shows how a 100-meter road fitted 20 kW power output dynamic charging system into center charges the electric car passing even at high speed.
The story of WiTricity started in 1891 at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers in New York genius Nikola Tesla held up an early version of fluorescent bulb and with no wires connected to it made it glow. That electricity was being transmitted through the air between two sheets on either side. Then after that in 2007, researchers at MIT managed to wire-lessly power a 60-watt light bulb from seven feet away. In the early days the wireless power were only 1% efficient but now by using magnetic coupling resonance and other advance technology we get more than 90% efficient power transfer.
Qualcomm Sold it’s Halo Wireless Technology
Recently on 11 Feb-2019, the Qualcomm Sold it’s Wireless EV Charging Technology to WiTriCity. As per the official press-release note from the Witricity-
WiTricity, announced the acquisition from Qualcomm Incorporated and Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. of certain technology platform and IP assets. This will bring to over 1,500 the number of patents and patent applications related to wireless charging. Now that WiTricity will own or control.
WiTricity will work for the technology development that will enable automakers to deliver an EV charging experience that is seamless and efficient. By simply parking over wireless charging ground pads located at home, in garages, and public parking spots, EV drivers will be able to recharge hands-free, without the need for any bulky cables.
Wireless charing pad in parking and Highways
Wireless charing road which charges EVs on go is going to be one of the revolutionary technology in the field of electric vehicles.
Evatran (also known as Plugless) and WiTricity provides this facility. Evatran has already made available the wireless charging for the Tesla, BMW and Nissan electric cars. 3.3 to 7.2 kw range of charger is available now which is same as any typical home power rating range. WiTricity is also leading in this technology now.
Rapid charging before you finish your maggi
The EVs has always been undermined for its limited range. Deloitte Global Automotive Consumer Survery 2018 also shows how does the Driving range and lack of the charging infrastructure affect the acceptance of EV. But how it would be if one can drive the electric car for 200 to 300 miles and wheneven needed that can be charged again road side just in 10 minutes with same range? Yes this is possible and experiment is also going on. That is also true existing electric car can not take that high speed charing due to its battery design limitations but an experiement is performed on an special electric car.
“If we have a ubiquitous fast-charging infrastructure on the roadside, drivers need no longer to worry about the cruise range. After driving 200-300 miles per charge, one can pick up another 200-300 miles by charging for 10 minutes,” Dr Chao-Yang Wang, a professor at the Pennsylvania State University and co-author of the study, told the Guardian. Team has also succeded to get the 80% of charge in just 10 minutes. For your information Tesla Model S now takes around 40 minutes to charge it upto 80% from Tesla Super Charger.
There are some limitations to this technology. The car like Tesla and also some other high end electric car have function to pre-heat the battery before charging. And this is necessary. When we do the rapid charging to any Li-ion battery below 30° temperature then, the metallic lithium start forming spikes around the anode. While higher temperature (above 60°) allow Li-ion to move fast enough to avoid this problem. So, companies are also working on inbuilt mechanism to pre-heat the battery before or during charing.
Vehicle to Power Grid technology
I have remembered one of the morning when I was discussing in the office cafeteria with other colleague about how these electric vehicles are going to affect all the electricity distribution networks in coming years. That agenda was related to the overloading on the power-grid. Issue arises in the peak hours when all the EVs will be in charging. And that peak hours will be any evening definitely. Electricity coming to the house-hold electric equipment is coming through a distribution network.
That electricity distribution network model is so old. It can not sustain the situation when maximum of electric cars would be plunged-in into home fitted charger and along with that other electric accessories will also be in operation. So, there is problem when number of electric vehicle increases in any particular area. And that problem need to be addressed.
Current overload protection for power-grid
Electric vehicle future technology of ‘EVs to Power-grid tech-communication’ establish a two way communication between battery powered car and the electricity power-grid. Current scenario is that whenever load increased on the power-grid then we face the power-outrage sometimes. This is going to increase in future as the number of EVs will increase.
New technology will allow to cut the car charging in that extreme situation. It will also give the choice to choose the electricity consumption for electric vehicle charging or to run the other electric house-hold equipment during the peak hours. Along with that future electric car will also sever the purpose of home electricity generator. In extreme cases this will minimize the load on local electricity distribution network.
Surplus current consumption from power-grid
In future we are not going to rely only on single source of electricity. We probably will be taking electricity from new renewable source. Other countries have already started doing it at large scale. When we generate electricity from renewable or any non-renewable source, the supply amount will be in surplus sometime. Specially when there is low consumption. This is a matter of discussion how we can store or use that surplus amount of electricity. So, the new technology will be effective to utilize the surplus amount of electricity to charge the battery of electric car.
My Words
The game has just started for the country like India. Where other countries like US, UK, China and Norway are far ahead in the EV technology, India has to go much more away from the current position. Technology like wire-less charging, dynamic charging and two-way communication between power-grid to electric vehicle will bring the drastic change in future. These will not only address the problem like range anxiety but also will help to grow the electric vehicle market everywhere.
