Despite on-going improvements in battery technology, the uptake of electric vehicles is still hampered by so-called “range anxiety”: the fear that a vehicle will run out of power before its destination is reached.
In an effort to address this, Highways England – the organisation formerly known as the Highways Agency – is planning off-road trials of so-called Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology that will allow vehicles to charge whilst on the move.
The announcement of the trials – which according to a spokesman are due to take place at some point within the next 18 months – follows the completion of a Highways England feasibility study into the technology which suggests that charging-on-the-go would help encourage EV adoption by both businesses and private motorists
The trials will involve fitting vehicles with wireless technology and testing the equipment, installed underneath the road, to replicate motorway conditions. They are expected to last for approximately 18 months and, subject to the results, could be followed by on-road trials.
Highways England is now inviting tenders from technology firms keen to get involved in the project, and said that it hopes to be able to announce technical partners before the end of the year.
As previously reported by The Engineer a number of wireless charging systems are already under development. Qualcomm Europe has been trialling its Halo inductive charging technology with a number of partners over the last few years, whilst Bombardier’s Primove wireless charging technology is now being rolled out at several test sites in Europe.
Commenting on the potential of the technology Highways England Chief Highways Engineer Mike Wilson said: “Off-road trials of wireless power technology will help to create a more sustainable road network for England and open up new opportunities for businesses that transport goods across the country.”
Good to see that dynamic charging is being researched. As the number of electric vehicles increases the electrification of our major roads will certainly be needed if only to avoid long queues at rapid charging points at motorway service stations and other locations.
I have leased my full electric Citroen C Zero for approaching three years in which time I have covered some 10,000 miles. Only once have I ran out of motive power when during my early electric driving days I failed to check that a charging point was compatible with my car. It was my own fault as I should have checked before setting out. The AA were with me quickly and Citroen met the cost as under my lease contract I am allowed two free tows and I still have one left (which I do not intend to use!)
So called range anxiety is not really a problem as with experience you get to know how fast and how far you can drive when planning a particular journey. If I drive the 60 miles or so to London and back I can do the journey on a single charge. I drive with a light foot on the way out and on the return journey adjust my speed so that I get home with a few miles to spare, even turning on the heater as I get closer to home!
One of the biggest benefits of dynamic charging will be the ability for those people without off road parking to charge their vehicles when they are travelling thereby encouraging more people to go electric, saving us all including those living in towns and alongside motorways and trunk roads from breathing petrol and diesel exhaust fumes.
Another benefit of dynamic charging will be the saving in journey time. Even with rapid charging points now installed at most motorway service stations, because of the distance between these charging points you still need to watch your speed plus it takes perhaps 25 minutes to charge to 80% full, depending on the charge remaining. Not a problem if your journey involves just one stop out and back but can become tedious if you need to make more stops, especially if you end up queuing (which has happened to me just once in nearly three years using rapid chargers perhaps twice a month and which added just 15 minutes to my journey).
With rapid charging points currently being free to use the cost saving compared to petrol or diesel adequately compensates me for my extra journey time. If dynamic charging proves to be a success then I fully expect to have to pay and in return will gain shorter journey times and easier long distance journeys. I will also be able to retire my other old diesel car which I currently keep for occasional long journeys when taking the train is not as convenient.
A further benefit of dynamic charging is that electric vehicles will not need to have very large batteries as they will only need sufficient range to drive to and from the dynamic charging network (with their heaters on!). Hence electric cars will be lighter and less demanding of lithium and other battery materials and will be even more efficient and affordable and we will all breath more easily.