A wireless EV charging system built by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) performed well in recent tests, bringing the technology one step closer to becoming a reality for consumers.
“This is a breakthrough achievement and opens the door to fast and efficient wireless charging for passenger electric vehicles,” says Omer Onar, PhD, a researcher on the team.
The team placed a Hyundai Kona Electric over a 14-inch, circular charging pad on the floor, equipped with ORNL's patented polyphase electromagnetic coupling coil. Power passed from the pad to the vehicle across a 5-inch airgap. The process is "similar" to wireless charging for small consumer devices, such as cell phones, ORNL says.
The coils charged the vehicle with 100kW of power at 96% efficiency, bringing the level of charge up 50% in just 20 minutes. Efficiency is widely considered a barrier to the widespread adoption of these wireless charging systems, which many consumers would likely prefer as they remove the need to wrestle with stiff, unsightly charging cords. Tesla, BMW, and other major automakers are also reportedly working on wireless charging systems.
ORNL's coils achieved eight to 10 times greater power density than conventional coil technology, which Onar says is the "highest power density in the world for a wireless charging system for this class of vehicle." The coils are designed to be small and lightweight to encourage commercial adoption.
The results follow the first test of the patented coil design in 2018. In that experiment, the team saw even better results—120kW of power with 97% efficiency over a 6-inch airgap—but it was a simpler, "benchtop" setup with no vehicle integration.
ORNL has been involved with battery technology research. It also helps fund and assist startups in their work, including helping one called Eonix develop a non-flammable battery that the US military is currently testing.
"America's lab system is truly a national treasure," Josh Grehan, principal at Helios Climate Ventures, tells PCMag. "The work being done there is incredible, but it's so unknown and under-appreciated."
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