Jump to content

Plugless Power

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Pbgiv (talk | contribs) at 13:06, 28 March 2010 (Improve clarity of benefit explanation.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Plugless Power
Company typePrivately held company
IndustryElectric vehicle infrastructure
Founded2009
FounderThomas Hough
Headquarters
Wytheville, Virginia
,
U.S.
Key people
Thomas Hough (CEO)
Vincenzo I. Paparo (Co-Founder)
Brent Dicker (Co-Founder)
Robert M. Atkins (Co-Founder)
Rebecca Hough (Co-Founder)
ProductsInductive charging system
OwnerEvatran LLC
ParentMTC Transformers

Plugless Power is a type of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) based on inductive charging. Plugless Power, a charging system for the electric vehicle (EV), connects the on-board EV battery charger inductively to the electrical power source, without physical connection. In simple terms, the two halves of the electric transformer are separated – one installed on the vehicle and one installed on the floor of a garage or in a parking lot. When the two pieces are brought together in close proximity, electrical current flowing in the station from the electrical grid causes current to flow into the vehicle adapter, charging the battery.[1] The vehicle is charged by parking over the inductive equipment, eliminating the active step of plugging the vehicle in, or need for a plug at that location. Proponents say it offers a means of standardizing and minimizing EV recharging infrastructures, increases convenience and will promote EV adoption; opponents claim there is a minor loss of power in inductive transmission and suggest the convenience is an excessive luxury.[2][3]

The Plugless Power product is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2010, the same time frame as new EVs from Chevrolet, Nissan and others are expected to be available.[3] Resulting from Electric Vehicle technological advances and market growth, the application of inductive charging technology continues gaining notability and industry attention.[4][5][6]

History & Development

Electromagnetic induction, discovered in the early 1830's by Michael Faraday, the basis of transformer technology and most other electrical machines, is Plugless Power's transfer method of electric power to an Electric Vehicle's charging system. The equipment consists of two components: (1) a vehicle adapter permanently mounted onto the vehicle and (2) a fixed base unit, housed in a garage or in a equipped parking space, which automatically aligns with the vehicle adapter and energizes to start charging the electric vehicle. With the Plugless Power dual-component EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment), current flows from one source to another without using a plug and a cord, enabling “hands-free” charging. Currently undergoing field testing, it is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2010.[7][3]

Claimed to be the world’s first hands-free plugless, proximity charging system for electric vehicles, it is a clean technology product project of Evatran, formally begun in 2009. Most competing technological EV charging development appears to be focused on speed of charge rather than convenience and ease.[8] Some industry people point to standardized inductive charging as a means of minimizing problematic infrastructure.[2]

Electric vehicles are perceived as a necessary solution to the global transportation/pollution dilemma, but there are significant challenges. Some issues include:

• Technologies being developed now are not the final product. Just like the more than century-old [internal combustion engine], electric vehicle technology will steadily improve. Engineers are still studying designs to mitigate environmental conditions such as changes in temperature, altitude, and terrain.

• Electric cars alone cannot stop climate change. Although cars and trucks are a growing contributor to greenhouses gases worldwide (because the population is growing), vehicles are only one contributor. Coal power plants are the biggest problem, and their population is growing, too. Drivers of electric vehicles who aim to maximize the ecological benefits of EVs should use a renewable energy provider to ensure environmentally-responsible charging.

• Areas that would benefit most from zero-emission electric vehicles are congested cities. And yet, personal, privately-owned, off-street parking is not common in high-density metropolitan areas. Some people can purchase parking spots, and parking garage owners will add charging facilities as these cars gain popularity, but many city dwellers will forgo electric vehicles until ultra-fast charging becomes available (charging as fast as a gasoline fill-up) or the battery swap concept takes off.[9]

• Electric vehicles are perhaps too quiet. Blind pedestrians need vehicular noise to be alerted to their vicinity.[9]

• One of the main consumer complaints regarding full-electric vehicles is hesitation surrounding “range anxiety.” With maximum ranges around 100 miles (160 km) in a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV), many consumers hesitate to use the full range and worry about being stranded with an empty battery. Despite the US Department of Transportation reporting the average daily commute around 50 to 60 miles (roundtrip), consumers struggle with seeing a BEV as their primary vehicle. One issue bolstering this problem is the lack of nationwide EV infrastructure. Just like with the ICE being dependent on the gas station, BEVs owners need to have the confidence of knowing a charging station is just around the corner to encourage them to purchase and use electric vehicles. One answer to this problem has come in the form of the plug-in hybrid (PHEV or EREV), which quells hesitation around range-anxiety with a backup gasoline powered gerenator. Even with owning a PHEV, however, EV infrastructure is needed to encourage consumers to recharge their EV batteries from the electrical grid whenever possible to avoid using the gasoline.

• Congruent to the issue of range anxiety is the current problem of recharging time. With consumers used to a five minute gas station stop every 300 miles (480 km), asking consumers to stop for a 6 to 8 hour recharge break every 100 miles (160 km) is a monumental hurdle to overcome. In daily life, with commutes staying around 60 miles (97 km), it is simple for a consumer to plug in his vehicle while he sleeps each night to awake to a full charge the following morning.

• Long distance travel, however, poses a much more difficult challenge. Charging electric vehicles can be inconvenient or repetitive. Consumers may run into issues related to forgetting to plug in their vehicle, safety hesitations, or not understanding the technical requirements and restrictions of their vehicles.

Manufacturer

Founded in 2009, Evatran was formed as a clean technology subsidiary of MTC Transformers, an award winning American manufacturer[10] of high-quality, precision-engineered transformers and rewind services based in Wytheville, Virginia. Evatran is utilizing over a century combined engineer's experience to innovate Electric Vehicle inductive charging with Plugless Power. The need for frequent charging of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and the means are a concern for inhibiting popular adoption of EVs that the inductive charger attempts to address, providing the infrastructure required to make electric vehicles widely viable. Evatran claims Plugless Power to be the world’s first hands-free, plugless, proximity charging system for electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids.[3][11]

Utilizing a dual-component system based on inductive technology, Evatran’s Plugless Power streamlines the charging of electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids by eliminating the physical connection and cable. The company claims a resultant automatic electric-vehicle charging system that is convenient, fast, safe, affordable, and potentially universal. Evatran’s customers are manufacturers, dealers, and drivers of electric or extended-range hybrid vehicles.[5] Other customers utilizing Plugless Power may include corporations, municipal governments, utilities, residential developers, new homebuilders, retailers, and small businesses.[3]

See also

References

  1. ^ Hubbard, Nate (September 18, 2009). "Electric (Car) Company". Wytheville News. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
  2. ^ a b Dallas Kachan (January 20, 2010). "'Disaster' scenarios for electric cars". Cleantech Group. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  3. ^ a b c d e Jim Motavalli (February 26, 2010). "Evatran Hoping To Cash In On Plug-Free Electric Cars". CBS Interactive Inc. (bnet.com). Retrieved 2010-03-9. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ Bennett, Bo (September 1st 2009 3:36 PM). "EVcast #267: There and Back Again...Eventually". evcast.com. Retrieved 2009-09-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ a b "New Subsidiary Formed to Charge Electric Vehicles". Virginia Business. August 31st 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ "Local company develops prototype to change face of electric cars". WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV. September 24th 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ Susan Wilson (March 1, 2010). "Evatran provides a plugless solution for EVs". Blorge.com. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  8. ^ Stephen Marcus (February 15, 2010). "Contenders vie for quickest EV battery charging time". Cleantech Group. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  9. ^ a b Mulliken, Bruce (April 12, 2009). "The Challenges Of Electric Drive". Green Energy News. Retrieved 2009-09-15.
  10. ^ "Profile". Inc.com. 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
  11. ^ "Plugless Power website". 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Plugless_Power&oldid=352527998"