A new wireless charging system for electric cars has been demonstrated in London. HaloIPT’s system uses two pads about the size of doormats to induce the electrical charge, making it easier to replenish depleted batteries.
Using the same technology featured in rechargeable toothbrushes, the firm’s recharging pads uses a Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) system, where magnetic resonance between the transmitter pad, fitted into the ground, and an integrated receiver pad, fitted to the electric vehicle (EV), creates a charge and charges the car’s batteries. All a driver has to do is park over a transmitter pad and the car will automatically start charging. That way the driver need not worry about remembering to plug his car in, as the car can automatically recharge when parked at home or in an electric car parking bay, helping to reduce range anxiety.
One pad is attached to the car while the second can be embedded into road surface or concrete drive. The system is not just easier to use than traditional plug-in chargers, it is safe too as wireless charging means that there are no exposed conductors and it can operate in all weather conditions – rain, snow and ice. Halo’s system also has a high tolerance to misalignment, which means that the car does not have to be parked with pin-point accuracy to induce charging.
The electric charging firm, which has offices in the UK and New Zealand, hopes some day the technology will enable drivers to charge their vehicles while on the move, by fitting IPT technology into charging lanes on the roads. The company, supported by engineering giant ARUP, plans to work with infrastructure providers to investigate the possibility of fitting the technology to stretches of major motorways. It is hoped that the form of charging could one day lead to electric vehicles carrying smaller batteries as they charge on the go.
