Japan cruises ahead with drive-thru EV charging trial
- Reference: 1697558654
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2023/10/17/japan_to_trial_wireless_charging/
- Source link:
The demonstration involves power transmission coils embedded into the road surface at key locations such as in front of traffic signals, where vehicles are more likely to be moving slowly in order to be able to recharge. It is expected that a 10-second charge will enable a typical electric car to travel 1 km (about 0.6 miles).
According to Japan's [1]University Journal news site, the charging system to be used in this pilot was developed by Professor Hiroshi Fujimoto and Associate Professor Osamu Shimizu of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo.
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The project is set to start in October at the [3]Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City Project, described as a new town in the northwestern part of Kashiwa city, Chiba prefecture, not far from Tokyo, which is intended to embody "a new vision for the cities of tomorrow."
Operation
In order not to waste energy, the power transmission coils are not energized at all times, but are fitted with a system that detects when vehicles are in proximity and minimizes standby power when not operating.
One aim of the project is to test out whether the power transmission coils have sufficient durability to be embedded into the road surface for any length of time. The research group will use this experiment to verify the durability of a pre-cast coil that integrates the power transmission system and road surface, the University Journal states.
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According to [6]Nikkei Asia , the test is scheduled to run until March 2025 and will cover safety as well as durability and other aspects. It states that if successful, Kashiwa aims to have automated shuttle buses operating using in-road charging by about 2030.
The demonstration involves a joint research group made up of the University of Tokyo, Chiba University, and nine companies including tire maker Bridgestone, ROHM Semiconductor, and automotive manufacturers such as NSK.
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Fitting power transmission into the road infrastructure could enable electric vehicles to operate with less battery capacity, making them lighter, and could also help to mitigate the shortage of conventional charging points, it has been suggested.
Similar trials have been planned in other areas. A stretch of road in the German town of [8]Balingen has also been used for running a trial this year, focused on buses and fixed charge points fitted at bus stops.
[9]Car industry pleads for delay to post-Brexit tariffs on EVs
[10]Texts from your dog and brain-free astronomy: The best of the rest from CES
[11]Near Field Communication to get longer, stronger – better at contactless
[12]Meet Honda's latest electric vehicle: A rideable suitcase
Another pilot scheme has been slated for the [13]city of Nottingham , UK, this time targeting electric taxis with induction loops installed at some taxi ranks to recharge vehicles while the cab driver is waiting to pick up a fare.
According to a discussion published by consulting outfit [14]McKinsey , wireless charging could make EV ownership more appealing as it becomes more convenient and involves less wear and tear because cables and connectors are not being plugged in and unplugged several times a day. It predicted that many OEMs will introduce wireless charging technology by 2024 or 2025.
But there are issues that need ironing out, such as ensuring all vehicles are compatible with all chargers, and whether existing EVs could be retrofitted to enable wireless charging. There is also a shortage of conventional charging points in many countries, such as the UK.
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The British government [16]announced last year a goal of having 300,000 public chargers available by 2030. As of [17]July 2023 , there were just 44,020. ®
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[1] https://univ-journal.net/234919/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZS8EC601oI2j3EisgoTnDAAAAAA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.kashiwanoha-navi.jp/en
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZS8EC601oI2j3EisgoTnDAAAAAA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZS8EC601oI2j3EisgoTnDAAAAAA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Technology/Wireless-EV-charging-while-driving-enters-first-Japan-road-test
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZS8EC601oI2j3EisgoTnDAAAAAA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.ft.com/content/2401d64e-f23e-48a6-9a0b-9ee5d777e5e4
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/25/car_industry_brexit_tariff/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/09/more_weirdness_ces/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/06/26/nfc_forum_innovation_roadmap/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2023/09/15/meet_hondas_newest_electric_vehicle/
[13] https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electric/what-is-electric-car-wireless-charging-wevc-and-how-does-it-work-/
[14] https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/automotive-and-assembly/our-insights/perspectives-on-wireless-and-automated-charging-for-electric-vehicles
[15] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_onprem/personaltech&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZS8EC601oI2j3EisgoTnDAAAAAA&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[16] https://www.gov.uk/government/news/tenfold-expansion-in-chargepoints-by-2030-as-government-drives-ev-revolution
[17] https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-july-2023/electric-vehicle-charging-device-statistics-july-2023
[18] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Wow
These things are worth trying, but I think there have been lots of questions about practicality, efficiency and safety.
Is wear and tear on connectors that big an issue? I know the scale is completely different, but my cellphone has survived 10 or so years of every-second-day charging, using just a micro-USB. Its on its 3rd battery.
Also, I don't know in general, but the electric buses we have here use an overhead charging system where a pantograph-like thing raises up from the roof of the bus to contact charging bars in the ceiling of the bus garage ("bus barn"). When down, they are disguised from paranoid folks by some higher side "wings" on the bus.
Re: Wow
> I know the scale is completely different, but my cellphone has survived 10 or so years of every-second-day charging, using just a micro-USB. Its on its 3rd battery.
Your on your third battery but how many cables have you gone through?
Re: Wow
Saw the same thing in Lido Venice earlier this year.
Was confused by the buses driving past the restaurant with these pantograph type things on the roof but no overhead wires. A short walk later I found one parked up between runs with its pantograph extended and 'plugged into" a sort of umbrella contraption above it.
Not really gonna work for cars though...
Re: Wow
Well, it's probably safer than having 440V prongs coming out of the tarmac and trying to find a suitable receptacle on the wet metal underside of your car. Will keep your bicycle handlebars warm too.
Vehicle ID based charging
Mostly unrelated, but EVgo in the US are trialing a no app, no card, no RFID, no faffing about, vehicle-ID based charging.
So normally you pull up to a charger and spend 5-10 minutes messing about with an app or card or RFID token to convince it to charge your vehicle. It's a pain.
Turns out newer vehicles can do data over the charger port and can send their VIN to the charger, which can then correlate that with an account and fund info.
Which means you drive up to the charger, plug in, and a couple seconds later, it just starts charging.
It's a HUGE improvement.
Check out https://www.evgo.com/autocharge/ for the details. In the FAQ, they actually do address security/hacking/fraud issues.
Re: Vehicle ID based charging
Odd how ICE vehicles managed to recharge their energy storage for decades without apps, cards, RFIDs or transmitting any information to anyone... but in this brave new world being inconvenienced for the sake of data slurpage seems to be the new normal.
... and before anyone asks, yes, I am a sad luddite
Very clever, but there is a problem.
It makes anyone buying an EV before this is rolled out, an early adopter/crash test dummy/beta tester, buying very expensive kit that will become obsolete rather sooner than cars usually do.
So what happens to the green transition if everyone now waits for them to do it better with v.2.0?
Re: Very clever, but there is a problem.
Yeah, I fully expect us to do a few rounds like this until we figure out a system that will work for society. It's going to be expensive for some people and we will end up with a lot of dead-end innovation for sure.
I'm reminded of the lightbulb CFL fiasco, where we went down an awful route of using devices with fairly complex construction, mercury, failure to dim (in most cases), a need to warm up, and a life that I found substantially less than advertised.
Until we managed to make LED bulbs workable for the masses at a scale that makes them affordable.
Re: Very clever, but there is a problem.
My sentiments entirely.
Does anyone want to buy a load of unused CFL lamps? Anyone ?
Mild climate
The test area is in Chiba prefecture, and according to Wikipedia the weather is pretty mild there. Doesn't freeze much, and not terribly hot. So the interesting problems of heavy vehicles driving over the dissimilar materials (charging coils embedded in the road surface material) are minimized. I bet they don't have a lot of potholes there, and they don't spread salt around to melt ice on the road. These are some of the potential difficulties that came to mind while I was reading about testing and durability.
I am curious about the issues that might fall into the "safety" category.
Wouldn't you need to be pretty accurately lined up?
Apple resorted to using magnets to insure the best wireless charging efficiency (that's now part of a Qi standard update) and maximum efficiency is even more important at the power levels wireless car charging will require. I guess they could paint something on the road so you knew where to stop rather than getting up close to the car ahead, and have a light on your dashboard tell you when to stop at optimal alignment?
I would also think that climates where it gets cold enough for frequent freeze/thaw cycles would be an issue. I can't imagine they could have too much material over the coils, a small crack would be enough to allow water to get down, expand the crack, and then the water can reach the coil. I'm assuming that's not desirable.
The problem you don't see
A lot of Japanese homes have 6kW power hookups. Modern homes may have 12kW. Even overnight charging at home is tricky.
US homes are wired for at least 24kW so there's no problem installing a 12kW outlet.
Wow
I make that about 72kW (very rough numbers), quite a rate of charge to achieve with no wires. Must be some strong magnetic fields involved.