Renault has demonstrated dynamic wireless electric vehicle charging (DEVC), a new technology which allows vehicles to charge while driving.
Renault has collaborated with Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom in designing a DEVC system capable of charging an electric vehicle dynamically with a charge of up to 20 kilowatts at speeds in excess of 100km/h.
The DEVC system has been designed to support real-world implementation of dynamic charging. The two Renault Kangoo Z.E. vehicles can pick up charge in both directions along the track.
The dynamic charging demonstrations took place at the 100-metre test track, built by Vedecom at Satory, Versailles, near Paris, within the FABRIC project.
FABRIC is a €9 million (NZ$14.5 million) project to assess the technological feasibility, economic viability, and socio-environmental sustainability of wireless vehicle charging. The project, partly-funded by the European Union, began in January 2014 and is scheduled to continue through until December 2017.
Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom installed the primary part of the DEVC system in the test track, whilst Vedecom and Renault installed the secondary part onto the test vehicles, two Renault Kangoos Z.E. The DEVC system will shortly be handed over to Vedecom to perform tests for the FABRIC project.
The tests will evaluate the operation and efficiency of energy transfer to the vehicles for a wide range of practical scenarios, including vehicle identification and authorization on entering track, power level agreement between track and vehicle, speed and alignment of vehicle along track.
“Our research engineers have worked very closely with the Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom teams to complete the DEVC system integration demonstration as part of FABRIC," said Eric Feunteun, Electric Vehicle Program Director, Groupe Renault.
"We see dynamic charging as a great vision to further enhance the ease of use of EVs, and the accessibility of EVs for all.”