Field-Focused Load-Leveled Dynamic Wireless Charging System for Electric Vehicles

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Program:
OPEN 2021
Award:
$1,425,000
Location:
Ithaca, New York
Status:
ACTIVE
Project Term:
04/29/2022 - 04/28/2025

Technology Description:

Cornell University seeks to develop a breakthrough wireless charging system for stationary and dynamic charging of EVs that will drastically reduce the need for expensive and bulky on-board batteries, enable unlimited range, accelerate EV penetration, and reduce U.S. energy consumption. The new system will leverage charging range extension, field focusing, and machine learning-based optimization to (1) reduce interference from fringing fields by 10x, (2) increase energy transfer by 10x, and (3) reduce power pulsations by 10x compared with state-of-the-art solutions. The project will demonstrate a 50-kW capacitive wireless charging system for EVs, which targets 150 kW/m2 power transfer density and 95% efficiency, while meeting fringing-field safety standards and minimizing power pulsations on the electric grid.

Potential Impact:

If successful, this project will advance the development and evaluation of an intelligent energy management system that enhances operational reliability, lowers infrastructure costs, and achieves higher economic benefits for the system operator and EV charging service provider.

Security:

The proposed technology does not use any rare-earth elements and does not face potential supply chain bottlenecks.

Environment:

The technology would encourage EV adoption; even a 10% penetration of EVs can reduce total U.S. energy consumption by about 1.5%.

Economy:

The proposed system would save $2.76 trillion alone in battery costs (assuming saving of 100 kWh battery at $100/kWh per EV) every time batteries must be replaced in all EVs (a net savings of about $6.5 trillion over the expected 30-year life of the system), in addition to the cost savings from not needing to deploy millions of much higher power rated DC fast chargers and ensuing cost benefits from a more load-leveled electric grid.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Robert Ledoux
Project Contact:
Prof. Khurram Afridi
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
afridi@cornell.edu

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Release Date:
02/11/2021