Western Power Distribution (WPD), the electricity distribution network operator for the Midlands, has announced the launch of its new research project exploring the feasibility of wireless, ‘on-the-go’ charging for electric vehicles (EVs) in the UK.
The £417,000 study is the first of its kind in the UK and will assess the viability of charging EVs as they are driven by using wireless inductive technology placed under road surfaces.
The ground-breaking DynaCoV (Dynamic Charging of Vehicles) initiative, launched in partnership with Coventry City Council, Coventry University, Toyota and Cenex, could help encourage the mass adoption of EVs by overcoming significant barriers around charging and range anxiety.
It is expected that the technology could be particularly beneficial to HGVs which are constantly on the move and require larger batteries in order to provide the power required. Inductive charging technology would tackle concerns that exist regarding range anxiety for HGVs that are often constantly on the move over long distances.
The technology would also prove beneficial for distribution network operators, such as WPD, as it would provide multiple substation connection points along the length of the charging strip resulting on less pressure on the network.
The on-the-go charging would also relieve pressure across the network by reducing high demand periods such as end of day charging when people return home from work.
With the required technology retrofitted to existing EVs and hybrid vehicles, the study will assess the data communication between the charger and receiver, as well as exploring how the equipment would operate within the existing network and the external environment.
The technology works by laying a small wireless charger beneath the tarmac in the road for the retrofitted receiver to pick up the charge and power the vehicle.
The project will be conducted in three stages. Firstly, Cenex will explore existing expertise and developments in this area, before Coventry University assesses the feasibility of deploying the technology in the city. Finally, Cenex will identify where WPD’s existing network might benefit from said technology and how it would work in such an environment.
The study begins this month and the results are expected to be published by February 2022. Depending on the outcome, an initial trial of the technology could be announced later in the year.
Shamala Evans from Coventry City Council added: “There are sectors of the transport system, such as buses and HGVs, which have previously proven challenging to electrify due to their high energy demands. However, dynamic wireless power transfer is a technology which has the potential to provide the ability to charge on the move and will be transformational in accelerating the electrification of our transport networks.
“Coventry’s ambition is to create a zero-emission road transport city and we believe this initiative will support our bid to become an All Electric City going forward.”
This article is edited from a Coventry City Council Press Release from 4/1/2021