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Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles: Towards a Safe and Efficient Technology

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 July 2021) | Viewed by 15283

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Mauro Zucca

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Guest Editor

Istituto Nazionale di Ricerca Metrologica – INRiM, Torino, Italy
Interests: Wireless power transfer, Electrical metrology, Energy harvesting, Energy efficiency, Shielding, Electromagnetic Dosimetry

Dr. Vincenzo Cirimele

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Guest Editor

Department of Energy “Galileo Ferraris”, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
Interests: static and dynamic inductive power transfer for electric vehicles, human protection from exposure to electromagnetic field at industrial frequency, modeling of non-conventional electromagnetic devices

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) or Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for the charging of electric vehicles is an opportunity for the widespread adoption of electric vehicles in public and private transports. The vehicle battery represents an important cost item and also a significant weight to carry for the vehicle. The possibility of recharging the battery in many places, at the home or work parking lot, at the supermarket parking or at the traffic lights, can lead to lighter and less expensive batteries, more performing cars and, above all, lead to a reduction in the vehicle energy footprint. This can be further emphasized by dynamic charging, the so-called charging while driving, which goes perfectly with the concept of autonomous driving. Dynamic charging aims at powering the vehicle during the motion by eliminating range-limitation, the most important limit in the adoption of electric vehicles for long trips.

The prospect of these advantages of inductive charging has the cost of lower charging efficiency compared to conductive charging, mainly due to large air gap between the coils and losses in the converters both on the ground and onboard the vehicle. Besides, magnetic emissions can be a brake for manufacturers in developing and adopting this type of technology. It is up to academy and research to prove that this technology is safe and efficient and that benefits outweigh disadvantages.

This Special Issue aims to address the subjects of efficiency, safety, impact and perspectives of IPT charging systems for vehicles. In particular, all the following studies are welcome: experimental studies on IPT systems or archetypes; studies conducted through mathematical and numerical models; studies concerning the modeling of IPT systems as a whole, or limited to the coils arrangement; studies focusing on the architecture and or efficiency of the ac-dc and dc-ac conversion systems. Furthermore, studies concerning magnetic field emissions, dosimetry and/or implanted medical devices will be considered.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Modeling systems and devices for IPT systems
Measurement and characterization of wireless charging stations and components
Design and optimization of IPT systems and components
Efficiency of IPT systems; modeling and/or measurements
Efficiency of power converters in IPT systems
Improved couplers for wireless charging systems
Safety assessment for IPT systems for vehicles
Electromagnetic modeling and simulation of wireless charging systems
Human exposure assessment
Life cycle assessment
Technological sustainability
Safety and protection for users
Accountability and billing
ICT framework

Dr. Mauro Zucca
Dr. Vincenzo Cirimele
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

Inductive power transfer
Wireless power transfer
Measurements
Power converters
Efficiency and losses
Electric vehicle
Electromagnetic safety
Civil infrastructure
Urban infrastructure
Electric Roads
Optimization
ICT
LCA

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 10546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Multiphysics Investigation of an UltrathinVehicular Wireless Power Transfer Module for Electric Vehicles

by Martin Helwig, Steve Zimmer, Peter Lucas, Anja Winkler and Niels Modler

Sustainability 2021, 13(17), 9785; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179785 - 31 Aug 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1531

Abstract

The functional and spatial integration of a wireless power transfer system (WPTS) into electric vehicles is a challenging task, due to complex multiphysical interactions and strict constraints such as installation space limitations or shielding requirements. This paper presents an electromagnetic–thermal investigation of a novel design approach for an ultrathin onboard receiver unit for a WPTS, comprising the spatial and functional integration of the receiver coil, ferromagnetic sheet and metal mesh wire into a vehicular underbody cover. To supplement the complex design process, two-way coupled electromagnetic–thermal simulation models were developed. This included the systematic and consecutive modelling, as well as experimental validation of the temperature- and frequency-dependent material properties at the component, module and system level. The proposed integral design combined with external power electronics resulted in a module height of only

15 mm

. The module achieved a power of up to 7.2 kW at a transmission frequency of

f_{0} = 85 kHz

with a maximum efficiency of 92% over a transmission distance of

110 mm

160 mm

. The proposed simulations showed very good consistency with the experimental validation on all levels. Thus, the performed studies provide a significant contribution to coupled electromagnetic and thermal design wireless power transfer systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles: Towards a Safe and Efficient Technology)

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13 pages, 2937 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparison of Coupling Coils for Static Inductive Power-Transfer Systems Taking into Account Sources of Uncertainty

by Yao Pei, Yann Le Bihan, Mohamed Bensetti and Lionel Pichon

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6324; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116324 - 2 Jun 2021

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2069

Abstract

The present work aims at comparing different coupling coils by taking into account sources of uncertainty for static inductive power-transfer (SIPT) systems. Due to the maximum transmission efficiency for the SIPT system related to the mutual inductance between coils, the key point here is to make use of a sparse polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) method to analyze the mutual inductance between the transmitter and the receiver. A fast postprocess-sensitivity analysis allowed the identification of which source of uncertainty was the most influential factor to the mutual inductance for different coupling coils. Furthermore, in view of the relationship between the maximum transmission efficiency and the ratio of the length of wires of a coil and the mutual inductance, circular coupling coils should be recommended for SIPT systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles: Towards a Safe and Efficient Technology)

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15 pages, 3704 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Systems Based on Behavioral Modeling of Mutual Inductance

by Giulia Di Capua, Antonio Maffucci, Kateryna Stoyka, Gennaro Di Mambro, Salvatore Ventre, Vincenzo Cirimele, Fabio Freschi, Fabio Villone and Nicola Femia

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2556; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052556 - 26 Feb 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2446

Abstract

This paper proposes a system-level approach suitable to analyze the performance of a dynamic Wireless Power Transfer System (WPTS) for electric vehicles, accounting for the uncertainty in the vehicle trajectory. The key-point of the approach is the use of an analytical behavioral model that relates mutual inductance between the coil pair to their relative positions along the actual vehicle trajectory. The behavioral model is derived from a limited training data set of simulations, by using a multi-objective genetic programming algorithm, and is validated against experimental data, taken from a real dynamic WPTS. This approach avoids the massive use of computationally expensive 3D finite element simulations, that would be required if this analysis were performed by means of look-up tables. This analytical model is here embedded into a system-level circuital model of the entire WPTS, thus allowing a fast and accurate analysis of the sensitivity of the performance as the actual vehicle trajectory deviates from the nominal one. The system-level analysis is eventually performed to assess the sensitivity of the power and efficiency of the WPTS to the vehicle misalignment from the nominal trajectory during the dynamic charging process. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles: Towards a Safe and Efficient Technology)

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19 pages, 2787 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of the Overall Efficiency in WPT Stations for Electric Vehicles

by Mauro Zucca, Vincenzo Cirimele, Jorge Bruna, Davide Signorino, Erika Laporta, Jacopo Colussi, Miguel Angel Alonso Tejedor, Federico Fissore and Umberto Pogliano

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2436; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052436 - 24 Feb 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1936

Abstract

The on-site assessment of the efficiency of a charging station is not a trivial process and is a topic of discussion for professionals. The efficiency of electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), is an important parameter for both the user and the EVSE operator. This paper deals with a particular type of EVSE, using static wireless power transfer (WPT). This paper proposes a clear method to account for the parameters which can affect the correct determination of efficiency, such as in particular the accuracy of the meters and the effect of temperature. This work proposes a method to define the accuracy of the power and efficiency on-site assessment, and is aimed at clarifying that despite distorted waveforms at the charging stations, it is possible to reach a good accuracy in a wide temperature span (expanded uncertainty <0.5% between 5 °C and 40 °C). Analysis initiated from the measurement conditions and the actual waveforms recorded at two WPT EVSEs with differently rated power. This paper paves the way for the possibility of verifying class 0.5 m on-site, desirable for this type of application. The paper also clarifies that despite the evident presence of voltage and current ripple at the batteries, the weight of the ripple power on the total power is nevertheless lower than 0.1%. Finally, the paper highlights how, for the correct measurement of the ripple, it would be advisable to calibrate the instrumentation in DC and in AC, at a frequency double that of the working frequency of the EVSE coils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles: Towards a Safe and Efficient Technology)

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25 pages, 5426 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Exposure to Electric Vehicle Inductive Power Transfer Systems: Experimental Measurements and Numerical Dosimetry

by Ilaria Liorni, Oriano Bottauscio, Roberta Guilizzoni, Peter Ankarson, Jorge Bruna, Arya Fallahi, Stuart Harmon and Mauro Zucca

Sustainability 2020, 12(11), 4573; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12114573 - 3 Jun 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3041

Abstract

High-power inductive power transfer (IPT) systems for charging light and heavy electric vehicles pose safety concerns if they are installed in uncontrolled environments. Within the framework of the European Project EMPIR-16ENG08 MICEV, a wide experimental and numerical study was conducted to assess the exposure of the general public to IPT stray magnetic fields for two different exposure scenarios: (1) for an IPT model system derived from the SAE J2954 standard operating at 85 kHz for a light electric vehicle coupled with the model of a realistic car-body model; and (2) for an IPT model system with a maximum rated power of 50 kW at 27.8 kHz for a real minibus that was reproduced with some simplifications in two different 3D finite element method (FEM) simulation tools (Opera 3D and CST software). An ad hoc measurement survey was carried out at the minibus charging station to validate the simulations of the real bus station for both aligned and misaligned IPT coils. Based on this preliminary study, a safety factor was chosen to ensure a conservative dosimetric analysis with respect to the model approximations. As highlighted in this study, the vehicle-body serves as an efficient screen to reduce the magnetic field by at least three orders of magnitude close to the coils. By applying FEM, computed spatial distribution to the Sim4Life software, the exposure of three Virtual Population human anatomical phantoms (one adult, one child, and a newborn) was assessed. The three phantoms were placed in different postures and locations for both exposure scenarios. The basic restriction limits, established by the current guidelines, were never exceeded within the vehicles; however, the basic restrictions were exceeded when an adult crouched outside the minibus, i.e., near the coils, or when a newborn was placed in the same location. Borderline values were observed in the light car. In the case of the bus, limits coming from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) guidelines are never exceeded, while basic restrictions coming from the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines are exceeded up to 12% for an adult and up to 38% for a newborn. This paper presents novel dosimetric data generated in an IPT system for heavy vehicles and confirms some of the literature data on light vehicles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles: Towards a Safe and Efficient Technology)

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14 pages, 6548 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dual-Frequency Programmed Harmonics Modulation-based Simultaneous Wireless Information and Power Transfer System via a Common Resonance Link

by Jie Wu, Hengyi Zhang, Pengfei Gao, Zhifeng Dou, Nan Jin and Václav Snášel

Sustainability 2020, 12(10), 4189; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12104189 - 20 May 2020

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2095

Abstract

Most simultaneous wireless information and power transmission (SWIPT) systems currently operate at a single frequency, where the power and information transmission affect the resonance state of each other. This paper proposes a structure using dual-frequency programmed harmonics modulation (DFPHM). The primary-side inverter outputs a dual-frequency (DF) wave containing the power transmission and information transmission frequencies, while the DF wave is coupled to the secondary side through a common inductive link. After the power and information are transmitted to the secondary side, they are demodulated in different branches. Wave trappers are designed on each branch to reduce the interference of information transmission on power transmission. There is no tight coupling transformer in the system to inject information, so the system order is not high. Experiments verified that the proposed structure based on DFPHM is effective. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inductive Charging for Electric Vehicles: Towards a Safe and Efficient Technology)

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