With the advent of wireless charging for electric vehicles, telecommunications electronics maker Qualcomm has taken the technology a step further with the introduction of dynamic electric vehicle charging (DEVC), a setup which allows an EV to be charged while on the move.
The dynamic charging system can charge electric vehicles at highway speeds of up to 100 km/h, and can simultaneously charge two vehicles on the same track. Additionally, the system can supply charge to vehicles in both directions, adding to its versatility in real-world implementation, Qualcomm says.
The dynamic charging setup was demonstrated at the FABRIC (FeAsiBility analysis and development of on-Road chargIng solutions for future electriC vehicles) test track built by Vedecom in Satory, Versailles, near Paris.
Qualcomm and Vedecom are responsible the source half of the Qualcomm Halo DEVC charging solution, while Vedecom and Renault have jointly integrated the receiving half of the system into a pair of Renault Kangoo demonstrators for the trials.
Soul EV wireless charging concept
The FABRIC project is mostly funded by the European Commission, aimed at addressing the technological feasibility, economic viability, and socio-environmental sustainability of wireless DEVC, says Qualcomm.
The €9 million project began in January 2014 and will continue through December 2017, and is being undertaken by a consortium of 25 partners from nine European countries, including automotive manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and research organisations. The main aim of FABRIC is to conduct feasibility analysis of wireless DEVC as a means of EV range extension.
Vedecom will be responsible for providing the demonstration of the charging setup in Satory. “Our engineers and management have fully supported this project since the very beginning as it aligns perfectly with our focus on EVs, charging systems and mobility services,” said Vedecom CEO Luc Marbach.
“We are a public-private partnership focused on pre-competitive research. The installation of one of the world’s first DEVC test platforms has provided us with a unique test facility and we look forward to expanding our expertise with the future testing,” Marbach added.
