HEVO to commercialize ORNL’s dynamic wireless charging technology

The DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has licensed its wireless charging technology to Brooklyn-based HEVO. The system is designed to provide high power levels in a small package, and also supports dynamic charging, which could one day allow EVs to be charged while in motion.

HEVO will work with ORNL to further develop the technology and make it ready for commercial manufacturing. Supported by a DOE Technology Commercialization Fund award, HEVO and ORNL will co-develop and demonstrate a 300 kW wireless charging system based on the ORNL converter and associated power electronics.

The license covers ORNL’s polyphase electromagnetic coil, which delivers a surface power density of 1.5 megawatts per square meter—eight to 10 times higher than currently available technology, according to ORNL. This allows high power levels to be delivered by a thinner, lighter coil, addressing the issue of adding range-sapping extra weight to EVs.

The license also includes ORNL’s Oak Ridge Converter, which directly converts 60 Hz AC power from the grid to high-frequency AC without making an intermediate conversion to DC power. ORNL says its converter design can reduce the weight and size of stationary, grid-side infrastructure by as much as 50%.

The dynamic charging system also supports electric heavy-duty trucks. “Right now, those big trucks would require massive battery packs that add significant weight and cost to the vehicle,” said Veda Galigekere, who leads ORNL’s Electric Drives Research Group. “But with dynamic wireless charging on interstates, for instance, you can reduce the onboard battery capacity needed while alleviating range anxiety.”

“Together, we are developing the fastest and most universal wireless charging platform in the world,” said HEVO founder and CEO Jeremy McCool. “From only one device mounted on the vehicle, a driver will now have the advantage of wirelessly charging at all levels up to 300 kilowatts, powering their home through a vehicle-to-grid interface, and even charging while driving at highway speeds with grid-to-battery efficiency of 90-96.5%.  [The system also has] the capability to charge electric vehicles without a human behind the steering wheel. All of this functionality is built into a vehicle-side package the size of a medium pizza box.”

Source: Oak Ridge National Laboratory

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