SAE International’s Wireless Power Transfer & Alignment Taskforce has been working on a new wireless EV charging standard for some time. Now, following a “lengthy consensus process,” the group has decided upon Differential Inductive Positioning System (DIPS) as the technology alignment methodology for the SAE J2954 standard, Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for Light-Duty Plug-in/Electric Vehicles and Alignment Methodology.

The taskforce, which includes automakers (OEMs), Tier 1 suppliers and wireless charging suppliers, were surveyed to determine minimum common methods for alignment (fine alignment, pairing and alignment check) to be standardized, and agreed upon DIPS as the alignment technology for the upcoming revision of SAE J2954.

Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) following SAE J2954 enables automatic wireless charging for EVs and promises highly efficient charging (up to 93%). The missing piece of the standardization puzzle has been finding an alignment methodology that works in all weather conditions and is interoperable between many different types of applications.

DIPS is described as a low-frequency, low-intensity magnetic field generated from the ground assembly with multiple coils that can evaluated by the vehicle assembly for positioning. A conformance test is done to ensure interoperability between vehicle and charging pad. Ground and Vehicle WPT assembly manufacturers can develop and test their systems according to this interoperability specification.

The updated SAE J2954 standard is expected to be published in the first quarter of 2024 with a detailed specification.

“EV charging should be as simple as parking in the right spot and walking away, [and the] SAE J2954 Standard enables this,” said Wireless Power Transfer Taskforce Chair Jesse Schneider. “The taskforce decided on the alignment method DIPS, [and] with this, the team has solved the missing link for wireless charging commercialization for EVs.”

“With this update to the standard, wireless automatic charging will become available to public infrastructure,” said WiTricity Fellow Ky Sealy, who is the Co-chair of the SAE J2954 Alignment and Controls sub-team.

Source: SAE International