Roadway Charging Segments with Selective Activation for Electric Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wireless charging technologies for electric vehicles are limited in their ability to efficiently charge vehicles with varying battery capacities and charge levels over different routes, especially when coexisting with fossil fuel-powered vehicles, and require frequent stops for recharging.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising charging segments with primary coils embedded in roadways, powered by a smart grid, that use transceivers and controllers to selectively activate and deactivate charging based on vehicle type, priority, and charging requirements, allowing for efficient charging of electric vehicles while in motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wireless charging is activated for all vehicles passing over the roadway, then electric vehicles can be charged continuously, but energy is wasted on fossil fuel vehicles and system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses transceivers to detect vehicle type and communicates this information to the controller, which then activates or deactivates the primary coil accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures charging is provided only when needed, preventing energy waste on fossil fuel vehicles while maintaining continuous charging capability for electric vehicles.
Solution Approach 2:
The charging system dynamically adjusts its operation based on real-time vehicle detection. The controller continuously monitors transceiver signals and modifies the charging state (active/inactive) of the primary coil, enabling the system to adapt its energy transfer to match actual charging requirements rather than operating in a fixed state.
2Duration of action of moving object
If wireless charging is activated continuously, then electric vehicles can charge without stopping, but the system cannot differentiate between vehicles requiring charging and those that don't
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver system provides continuous feedback about vehicle presence and type to the controller. This enables the system to maintain continuous operation readiness while adapting its charging output to match each vehicle's specific needs, whether that means full charging activation or complete deactivation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of vehicle type and charging requirements before activating the charging field. The controller receives transceiver signals in advance, determines the appropriate charging state, and then activates the primary coil only when an electric vehicle is detected, preventing unnecessary energy consumption.
3Ease of operation
If the primary coil is activated for every vehicle, then no vehicle is turned away, but fossil fuel vehicles consume system resources without benefit
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver provides feedback that identifies whether an approaching vehicle is an electric vehicle or fossil fuel vehicle. The controller uses this information to make intelligent decisions about charging activation, ensuring that system resources are allocated only to vehicles that can actually utilize the charging capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts and separates the charging function from universal vehicle service. Instead of providing charging to all vehicles indiscriminately, the system selectively applies the charging function only to electric vehicles through intelligent control, while fossil fuel vehicles pass through without triggering the charging field.
4Loss of energy
If the system selectively activates charging only for electric vehicles, then energy efficiency improves, but the system complexity increases due to additional sensors and control logic
Solution Approach 1:
The transceiver serves multiple functions: it detects vehicle presence, identifies vehicle type, and communicates with the controller. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensors for each detection task, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving selective charging activation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control logic merges vehicle detection, vehicle type identification, and charging activation decisions into a single integrated control system. The controller processes transceiver information and manages primary coil activation in one unified operation, avoiding the complexity that would arise from separate independent systems for each function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and convenient charging of electric vehicles while in motion, reducing the need for frequent stops and optimizing energy transfer based on vehicle-specific requirements, thereby enhancing the usability and range of electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
a wire carrying an electric current produces a magnetic field around the wire (Ampere's Law); (b) a coil intersecting a magnetic field produces a voltage in that coil (Faraday's Law)
Implementation Method 2
electromagnetic power transfer between electrical circuits across an air gap can be achieved using magnetic field coupling at resonance (Tesla's Law)
Implementation Method 3
a power inverter, in electrical communication with the primary coil, to convert direct current electrical energy from a power grid to alternating current electrical energy to pass the alternating current electrical energy through the primary coil
Implementation Method 4
a rectifier, in electrical communication with the secondary coil, to convert the alternating current electrical energy received from the selected charging segment to direct current electrical energy to store the direct current electrical energy in the rechargeable energy storage
Data Source
AI summary
A system includes charging segments positioned throughout a transportation network, the charging segments charging rechargeable electric vehicles. Each charging segment includes a primary coil to charge a selected rechargeable electric vehicle; a power inverter to convert alternating electrical current from a power grid to direct electrical current to pass through the primary coil; a switch to activate and deactivate the ability of the primary coil to charge the selected rechargeable electric vehicle; a transceiver to transmit signals to and receive signals from the selected rechargeable electric vehicle in spatial proximity to the charging segment; and a controller to control the switch in response to signals received from the transceiver. The controller determines whether an oncoming vehicle is a rechargeable electric vehicle, enables the switch to activate the primary coil when the oncoming vehicle is a rechargeable electric vehicle, and disables the switch to deactivate the primary coil when the oncoming vehicle is not a rechargeable electric vehicle.