The electric vehicle (EV) revolution, which is obvious on the street, is also setting the pace in workshops, with training and knowledge of EV technology now a major aftermarket trend, according to DENSO pan EU strategic marketing manager, Fatiha Laauich, who shares her view of where charging these vehicles is headed.
The growing popularity of EVs is largely driven by environmental issues and principally the short-term gain they provide in terms of the reduction of exhaust emissions and the consumption of fossil fuels, primarily in the form of petrol and diesel; however, although the range they can travel is improving with every new model, charging the batteries they rely on can still be problematic, particularly as competition for public charging points is likely to intensify – so, is there a solution?
Well, a team of engineers at DENSO’s Electrification Systems Engineering Division believe there is and can picture a future when EVs will be charged while on the move and are now hard at work to make the chore of plugging in a thing of the past!
Wireless power transfer technology is already widely used to charge devices, such as smartphones and electric toothbrushes. By applying it to the world of electric mobility, EV batteries will be able to be charged on the move, or more precisely, when the vehicle comes to a stop during a journey, which will enable EVs to keep running without having to stop for a charge.
With this development, not only does driving an EV have a less harmful impact on the environment, but it also avoids competition to find and use – often for lengthy periods – a public charging point and provides an advantage that is just not possible with a traditionally fuelled vehicle. Although the concept would be able to operate wherever the technology is integrated into the infrastructure, it really comes into its own when city driving, where in busy areas many vehicles spend time sitting at red lights or are stationary due to congestion.
Although sophisticated control systems are required to develop this type of technology, DENSO is a major supplier of control technology and possesses knowledge and experience in the field of mobility-product control technologies, to enable it to build systems that effectively coordinate mobility with infrastructure to harmonise the complex mechanisms as one system.
DENSO has been conducting collaborative industry/academia demonstration testing based on an open innovation approach and from 2022, will gradually start the social experiment. Around 2025, it plans to start practical applications of the technology in compact mobility systems within DENSO’s plants.
The technology is expected to work particularly well with vehicles that serve distribution centres, plants and other facilities that operate nonstop throughout the day. By installing electric power charging systems in these locations, the potential use of automated guided vehicles and greatly improved task automation and efficiency can be expanded.
Through development of this technology, DENSO will continue its aim of achieving seamless interconnection of infrastructure and mobility to deliver a better future for people everywhere and a better future for the planet.
