I should probably note here that the article was written by me: Transport Evolved is my ‘baby’.
At the moment, we actually have two inductive cars. There’s the temporary longer inductive system written about in the article, but also a 2002 RAV4 EV with SPI system. Sadly, the latter is a bit sick right now (one of the modules has two shorted cells and thus does not charge above 11.9 volts). Nikki. ᐧ [image: --] Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield [image: https://]about.me/aminorjourney <https://about.me/aminorjourney?promo=email_sig> On Thu, May 19, 2016 at 8:09 AM, Peter C. Thompson via EV <ev@lists.evdl.org > wrote: > Hi Peter, > > Wireless power transfer efficiency (end-to-end) is above 90%. A google > search of "wireless EV charging efficiency" shows several companies > claiming this (including mine). All of the major OEMs are looking into > wireless charging as a long-term solution, and are working very hard on > making sure that the systems will be compatible across the globe. > > The mechanical plug idea is not new, but does add problems and costs (as > do all systems). Water shorting remains an issue, as does blocking. I'm > sure a good solution will arise for this. > > Cheers, Peter > > > > > On 5/19/16 6:54 AM, Peter Eckhoff via EV wrote: > >> From what I have read in the past, inductive pads are not that energy >> efficient as compared to a direct plug in. Have things changed? >> >> I like the idea behind Apple's Magsafe 2 charging port for laptops. With >> the Magsafe 2 charging system, the port is magnetized so that a charger >> plug will stay attached but will release given enough force. This prevents >> yanking on a firmly connected plug and prevents damage to the connective >> plug and/or receptacle. >> >> For an EV, the idea would be that the plug hangs down from the ceiling or >> pole and a person drives into their garage, carport, or spot on the >> driveway. The magnetic field is sensed, opens up the charging port doors, >> and the magnetic field draws the plug to the proper position, makes >> contact, a light on the dash confirms proper contact, and recharging >> begins. When the time comes to drive away, there is no plug to remove. >> The motion of backing away breaks the magnetic hold and the port door >> automatically closes. There is no forgetting to unplug. >> >> I could see where out in the open where dew and rain might present a >> problem. How does Tesla, Nissan, and all the other EV manufacturers >> prevent water from causing a short? >> >> On 5/19/16, 3:27 AM, brucedp5 via EV wrote: >> >>> >>> >>> https://transportevolved.com/2016/05/13/staff-car-report-our-nissan-leaf-gets-fitted-with-a-wireless-inductive-charging-system-in-the-interests-of-science/ >>> Staff Car Report: Our Nissan LEAF Gets Fitted With A WIRELESS INDUCTIVE >>> CHARGING SYSTEM IN THE INTERESTS OF SCIENCE >>> MAY 13, 2016 NIKKI GORDON-BLOOMFIELD >>> >>> [image >>> >>> https://transportevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Transport-Evolved-Wireless-Charging-2-580x411.png >>> The wireless receiver fits on the underside of the car, and is paired >>> with >>> the wireless inductive transmitter located on the floor >>> >>> >>> https://transportevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Transport-Evolved-Plugless-Power-installation-2-580x387.jpg >>> At the front of the car, a few extra control cables are interfaced with >>> the >>> stock wiring >>> >>> >>> https://transportevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Transport-Evolved-Plugless-Power-installation-19-580x387.jpg >>> As the receiver pad is fitted below the trunk area, installation nears >>> completion >>> >>> >>> https://transportevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Transport-Evolved-Plugless-Power-installation-26-580x387.jpg >>> New diffuser plates are fitted to protect the inductive charging pad >>> >>> >>> https://transportevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Transport-Evolved-Plugless-Power-installation-44-700x467.jpg >>> Its not our best work, but as its temporary, this is what our >>> installation >>> looks like >>> >>> >>> https://transportevolved.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Transport-Evolved-Plugless-Power-installation-47-580x387.jpg >>> As you approach, a series of arrows guide you in >>> ] >>> >>> With more than 30 years of collaborative electric car and plug-in vehicle >>> ownership under our belts here at Transport Evolved, we’d like to think >>> of >>> ourselves as being pretty well versed in the act of plugging a car in to >>> recharge it. From our earliest experiences involving standard household >>> outlets to CHAdeMO DC quick charging and Tesla’s incredibly impressive >>> Supercharger standard, driving a cleaner, greener car has always involved >>> plugging a cord in somewhere at the end of a trip to recharge our car’s >>> on-board battery pack for the next journey. >>> >>> Although anyone who has owned or driven an electric car for any length of >>> time will admit that the act of plugging in a car to charge it is a >>> process >>> that takes just a few seconds, many automakers are investing time and >>> energy >>> into developing wireless inductive charging systems designed to ensure >>> people never have to plug their car in to charge. >>> >>> [image] Inductive charging from mainstream automakers is on the way. >>> The idea is simple: instead of using an electrically conductive, >>> mechanical >>> plug and socket to send power from a charging station into an electric >>> car’s >>> charging system, you use electromagnetism to do the same thing >>> inductively. >>> And while most inductive charging systems are still very much in the >>> laboratory test phase right now, wireless inductive charging is something >>> that automakers like Nissan, Volkswagen and Toyota say we’ll be seeing on >>> commercial electric cars in the next decade or so. Such systems, we’re >>> told, >>> will eliminate the fear and worry that some customers have about >>> forgetting >>> to plug in, make electric cars more appealing to traditional gasoline car >>> owners, and lead to a future where cars can be dynamically charged while >>> driving along specially-designed portions of road. >>> >>> So to see what wireless charging was really like to live with on an >>> everyday >>> basis — and to see if we, and many electric car owners around the world >>> were >>> simply missing the point when it came to wireless inductive charging — we >>> reached out to the folks at Evatran, manufacturer of the Plugless Power >>> wireless inductive charging system, and asked if we could test a wireless >>> charging system for six months to see if we were right or wrong about >>> life >>> with a car that doesn’t plug in. >>> >>> They agreed, and just over one month ago, we took ‘Micah’ one of our >>> Staff >>> Nissan LEAFs to be fitted with the Plugless Power inductive charging >>> system. >>> Today and for the next five months or so, we’re going to bring you >>> regular >>> updates detailing how the system is working in real life, from how it >>> feels >>> not to have to plug in to any difficulties or challenges that the system >>> brings with it. >>> >>> And at this point, we think it’s worth noting that we’re entering into >>> this >>> six-month project as complete skeptics of the system. Having driven >>> electric >>> cars for so many years, plugging in isn’t an issue to us. Moreover, while >>> the Evatran Plugless Power system claims 90 percent efficiency when >>> compared >>> to a conductive (plug-in) charging system, we’re curious as to how much >>> extra power our system will use compared to a traditional >>> electromechanical >>> charging arrangement. >>> >>> Evatran currently sells wireless inductive 3.3 kilowatt charging systems >>> for >>> three different cars — the Nissan LEAF [EV], original Chevrolet Volt >>> [pih] >>> and the Cadillac ELR [pih] — and is in the process of launching its >>> fourth >>> inductive charging system, a larger, more powerful 7.2 kilowatt system >>> for >>> the Tesla Model S [EV]. Each system consists of a wall-mounted control >>> unit, >>> a floor-mounted wireless power transmitter (which Evatran calls the >>> parking >>> pad) and a wireless inductive charging receiver that sits on the >>> underside >>> of the vehicle. >>> >>> Prices range from $1260 for the Chevrolet Volt compatible unite to $1940 >>> for >>> the Cadillac ELR system, including installation. Prices for the Tesla >>> Model >>> S unit have yet to be announced, although Evatran is currently taking >>> refundable £244 deposits from interested Model S owners. >>> >>> While technically an aftermarket system, the Evatran Plugless Power >>> system >>> is designed to work with each vehicle’s existing control circuitry and >>> on-board connective charger, and can be installed in a few hours at one >>> of >>> its trained U.S. installation partners (at the moment, while there are >>> some >>> ‘pilot projects’ outside of the U.S. using the Evatran Plugless Power >>> system, the company is currently focused on expanding its U.S. market). >>> With each vehicle having its own specific installation ‘kit,’ no extra >>> holes >>> have to be drilled in the vehicle, no permanent modifications have to be >>> made, and the car can be returned back to factory specification at any >>> point. >>> >>> We should also point out here that since the wireless inductive charging >>> system exists in tandem with the conductive charging socket on each car, >>> the >>> Evatran Plugless Power solution makes use of the car’s on-board charger. >>> This means that any charge timers or pre-conditioning settings continue >>> to >>> work as they do when plugged in, assuming you’re parked over the >>> inductive >>> parking pad of course. >>> >>> Which brings us nicely to the install process. >>> >>> First up comes a series of phone calls designed to ensure that you’re >>> getting the right system and have the correct power close by your parking >>> space. Evatran can arrange an installation service for the wall unit and >>> charging pad for those who want it permanently installed — or if it’s >>> located outside — but those with an appropriately-wired garage can opt >>> for >>> the ‘self-install’ option, which comes in three boxes with the necessary >>> instructions you’ll need to install the system yourself. >>> >>> Meanwhile, the car receiver plate — and the electronics that go with it — >>> must be fitted by one of Evatran’s official installation partners. The >>> company fully warranties its equipment and says its warranty also covers >>> any >>> car faults caused by its system. This should give peace of mind to those >>> worrying about what happens if their car goes wrong and their dealership >>> gets upset about the aftermarket system. >>> >>> In our case, installation required a short trip to the Hawthorne Auto >>> Clinic >>> on Portland’s east side. An independent, locally-owned garage, Hawthorne >>> Auto clinic has made a name for itself in Portland, Oregon as being a >>> garage >>> that does everything it can to promote sustainable car ownership. With >>> every >>> mechanic trained on hybrid and electric car repair, the facility >>> maintains a >>> number of locally-owned electric vehicles. In fact, it currently serves >>> as >>> the official service center for the several hundred Think City electric >>> cars >>> that live in and around the greater PDX area. Why so many? That’s another >>> story involving Portland General Electric — but it certainly proved Micah >>> the Nissan LEAF was in good hands. >>> >>> With one of Evatran’s engineers on hand to assist Hawthorne Auto Clinic’s >>> staff (they had also installed a similar unit on a PGE fleet vehicle a >>> year >>> or more ago) we watched as Micah was raised up in the air and the >>> installation process began. >>> >>> While the Tesla Model S Plugless Power kit will place the wireless >>> inductive >>> receiver plate under the front of the car, the Nissan LEAF, Chevrolet >>> Volt >>> and Cadillac ELR installations place the receiver kit under the rear of >>> the >>> vehicle, just behind the rear wheels in the space often occupied by a >>> spare >>> wheel or a fuel tank in an internal combustion engine car. >>> >>> In the case of the LEAF, that meant the factory-fitted rear underbody >>> diffuser — a plastic cover designed to improve aerodynamic performance >>> and >>> therefore fuel efficiency — had to be removed. Since we’ve only got a >>> loaner >>> system, Hawthorne Auto Clinic gave us the panel and associated fasteners >>> so >>> we can revert our staff LEAF back to factory specification when it gets >>> removed in six months’ time. >>> >>> With the diffuser removed, special brackets were bolted in using existing >>> bolt holes on the underside of the LEAF and the plate itself was offered >>> up. >>> Meanwhile, two sets of wires — high voltage and low voltage — were fed >>> from >>> the rear of the car to the front, where the on-board charger in the 2013 >>> Nissan LEAF resides. Fitted inside the space occupied by the LEAF’s >>> battery >>> pack, the installation looks clean and professional from underneath and >>> the >>> modified connections under the hood — including a new magnetic switch to >>> detect if the charge port door is open or closed — were carefully added >>> without damage to the car. >>> >>> With the car installation completed, it was time for us to head back to >>> Transport Evolved headquarters, where the rest of the Plugless Power >>> system >>> was waiting. Since we’re only temporarily using the system, we opted for >>> a >>> DIY install, which we’ll admit isn’t the most sophisticated or >>> aesthetically >>> pleasing of solutions. >>> >>> The instructions provided by Evatran to install the system are >>> straightforward and we had no problems installing the supplied >>> wall-mounting >>> bracket for the control box on the wall of our garage. meanwhile, the >>> parking pad — and the shielding pad required for garage floor >>> installations >>> — were located on the floor underneath the LEAF. Pairing the unit with >>> the >>> car was fairly straightforward too: luckily, instructions are provided in >>> the installation guide. >>> >>> Which brings us to an important point, something we feel is certainly a >>> weakness of the Evatran system at the current point in time. Right now, >>> the >>> charging system pairs a single charging pad to a single car. We >>> understand >>> that will change in the future, but for now it does mean that you can’t >>> simply park over another identical wireless charging pad and expect your >>> car >>> to start charging. >>> >>> In daily operation, the Plugless Power system guides you into position >>> using >>> a series of arrows on the wall-mounted control unit, but to get the right >>> location for installation, Evatran recommends you park your car in a >>> comfortable spot in the garage, then line up the charging pad underneath >>> according to the instructions in its installation guide. >>> >>> Once a location has been picked — and you’ve tested its suitability by >>> driving in and out of the parking spot a few times to practice following >>> the >>> guidance of the wall unit — you anchor the parking pad to the ground >>> using >>> three metallic dowels. You’ll need a hammer drill to make the holes they >>> sit >>> in, but luckily Evatran provides the necessary drill bit — and a template >>> for drilling the holes — with the installation kit. >>> >>> With both wall unit and parking pad installed, we finished off our >>> temporary >>> installation using duct tape along the length of the garage floor to hold >>> the cabling that leads from the wall unit to the parking pad in place. >>> Naturally, a permanent installation could use a more >>> aesthetically-pleasing >>> solution but for test purposes, it should function just perfectly. >>> >>> So far, use of the system has been trouble-free once correct installation >>> had been completed. Once the system detects the car approaching the >>> garage, >>> it exits low-power mode and guides the driver in using its set of >>> diamond-shaped lights on the front of the unit. Once correctly parked, >>> simply turn off the car and the unit will either enter timer-delay mode >>> (if >>> you have a timer enabled in your car) or automatically begin charging. >>> [© 2016 TRANSPORT EVOLVED] >>> >> > _______________________________________________ > UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub > http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org > Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ > Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA ( > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA) > > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://lists.evdl.org/private.cgi/ev-evdl.org/attachments/20160519/86ba5444/attachment.htm> _______________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: http://www.evdl.org/help/index.html#usub http://lists.evdl.org/listinfo.cgi/ev-evdl.org Read EVAngel's EV News at http://evdl.org/evln/ Please discuss EV drag racing at NEDRA (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NEDRA)
