Whatever Happened To Wireless EV Charging?

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The attention-hungry dictator-adjacent Commander-in-Chief who occupies the Oval Office has taken some steps to slow down the vehicle electrification movement. Nevertheless, signs of progress continue to sprout up, especially in the all-important EV charging space. That includes wireless EV charging, which is beginning to edge into the commercial marketplace following years of R&D work.

More Wireless EV Charging For The USA

If you’re wondering why EV charging needs to be wireless, that’s a good question. Efficiency and convenience are two of the answers. Reducing the cost of EV charging stations is another, including maintenance costs. Avoiding damage from storms and accidents is also in play, as well as avoiding theft and other intentional damage.

Because wireless EV chargers are embedded in the ground, they can also save space and resolve aesthetic issues that may arise when conventional charging infrastructure comes into the scene.

In addition, while conventional chargers essentially mimic the experience of filling up a tank of gas, wireless charging is a different experience that opens up new use cases.

The Pennsylvania wireless EV charging firm InductEV cites the example of transit system electrification. With a network of wireless chargers, bus drivers can travel longer distances and recharge along their route, without incurring the time and infrastructure complications that attend conventional chargers.

“With traditional chargers using cables plugged into vehicles, drivers must connect a cable to their vehicle, find the charging port, and ensure a secure connection. This process can be time-consuming, inconvenient and unsafe, especially in adverse weather conditions,” InductEV observes.

InductEV also notes that wireless EV charging is a more seamless match for driverless vehicles, compared to automated plug-in systems.

Wireless EV Charging For Electric Buses

InductEV has already introduced its wireless system to transit agencies in Washington State, Tennessee, Oregon, and California, among other states. In the latest news from InductEV, earlier this week the company announced a partnership with the California bus manufacturer ENC, with the aim of providing the wireless EV charging option to more transit agencies across the US and Canada, too.

Under the partnership, InductEV’s wireless system will become part of ENC’s diversified portfolio, which currently includes diesel and CNG buses as well as battery-electric buses.

ENC’s signature electric bus is the Axess EVO-BE, which comes in 32-, 35-, and 40-foot lengths. ENC plans to offer the wireless EV option in all three lengths, with two wireless-ready versions for compliance with Buy America and Canadian Content standards, depending on the customer.

InductEV also notes that its system is designed for compatibility with different bus types, including double-deckers and paratransit buses.

Improving The Wireless Network

Independent researchers are also contributing to the wireless EV charging knowledge base. A team based at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, for example, has been working on a new, lightweight polyphase system with the aim of achieving Level 3 charging. Last June the lab reported that they broke their own 100-kilowatt record for wireless power transfer to a light-duty vehicle, hitting the 270-kilowatt mark on a Porsche Taycan.

Another example comes from a team based in Abu Dhabi. In a paper published in the journal Heliyon last August, they compared and contrasted grid-connected wireless chargers on electric bus routes and wireless chargers connected to distributed energy storage systems with solar energy. “The proposed optimization models provide a systematic approach to designing and operating charging infrastructure, contributing to sustainable urban transportation systems,” the researchers concluded, taking note of the influence of seasonal changes on the solar feature.

Wireless EV Charging Hits The Road

Last year, InductEV and the Norwegian firm ENRX joined forces to promote global standards for wireless EV charging systems, aiming to accelerate scaleup and mass adoption.

In the meantime, other innovators in the wireless space are working on road-embedded systems that enable EV drivers to recharge without stopping. Purdue University in Indiana is among the research institutions in hot pursuit. In 2023 the school began work on a wireless-enabled road, consisting of a quarter-mile stretch on US Highway 231/US Highway 52 in West Lafayette, with the aim of making Indiana the first US state to field-test the technology. As of last May, the project was on track for completion in the fall of 2024.

Michigan may have beat them to the punch. Last year the Israeli wireless charging firm Electreon made its US debut as part of a state-supported mobility innovation district in central Detroit. The company is bringing its wireless system to the Port of Long Beach in California, too (check out a CleanTechnica interview with InductEV President and CEO John F. Rizzo here).

Last month Electreon also announced that it earned ISO/SAE 21434 certification for cybersecurity engineering in vehicles, affirming “robust security measures” throughout the lifecycle of its in-road wireless EV charging system. The certification also indicates that the technology is mature and reliable.

“Electreon’s ISO/SAE 21434 certification is one of the many high standards it meets—a feat achieved by only a select few in the industry,” the company adds, adding that the certification is a step towards global adoption.

“The company anticipates that this certification—viewed as essential by automakers for integrating new technologies—will drive greater demand for its solutions in large-scale transportation projects,” Electreon emphasizes for good measure. “It will also strengthen existing partnerships with leading OEMs and open new collaboration opportunities.”

“Cybersecurity is crucial for Electreon, as its wireless charging infrastructure relies on secure communication among vehicles, charging systems, the road, and the power grid,” they conclude.

Whatever Happened To ENC?

For the record, ENC seemed ready to roll up its carpet last year when its parent company, REV Group, announced they were leaving the business. However, the California green vehicle startup Rivaz picked up the ball as the new owner of ENC.

While committing to maintaining ENC’s diversified fuel and floor plan portfolios, Rivaz states that it also aims to “launch affordable transit buses powered by 100% renewable energy systems,” featuring the Axess EVO-BE electric bus.

In an interesting turn of events, Rivaz also plans to continue offering the EVO-BE’s sister vehicle, the Axcess EVO-FC fuel cell electric bus.

Image: The US electric bus maker ENC will offer a wireless EV charging option to transit agencies under a partnership with the wireless charging firm InductEV (courtesy of ENC via IndcutEV).