The advantages are freedom from wear and exposure, elimination of the need for batteries, high safety, flexible power, and theoretically unlimited range. PRIMOVE can charge vehicles not just when parked, but also in motion. The vehicle communicates with the wayside components to switch on a given segment only when the vehicle is directly over it.

The PRIMOVE technology consists of both wayside and vehicle components. The wayside components are:

• Primary cable segments. These provide the actual power transfer to the vehicle, and are installed just under the road surface.
• Magnetic shielding under the primary winding (magnetic layer) to prevent electromagnetic interference.
• Vehicle Detection and Segment Control (VDSC) cable. This detects when a PRIMOVE-equipped vehicle is above the segment, and switches that segment on. Segments otherwise remain inactive, to comply with electromagnetic interference protection requirements.
• Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) data cable. This provides information for system control and diagnostics.
• Inverters. These convert the DC supply voltage to the AC voltage used in the system.
• DC feed cables. These supply power to the inverters.

Vehicle components include:

• Power Receiver System, consisting of the pick-up with a compensation condenser. Both can be installed underneath the vehicle. They convert the magnetic field from the primary winding into alternating current.
• Inverter. This converts the alternating current from the pick-up into direct current that powers or charges the vehicle.
• Energy storage (e.g. battery on buses and cars, or MITRAC Energy Saver on trams)
• Power electronics
• Vehicle Detection and Segment Control (VDSC) antenna. This detects cable segments and coordinates switching on and off.

Vehicle and wayside components are designed to meet all applicable safety standards. Reliable performance is ensured, even under adverse weather and ground conditions such as snow, rain, ice, sand or water.

The new center of excellence is located at Bombardier’s engineering and manufacturing site in Mannheim, Germany, which will also have an advanced testing and development facility opening in September 2011. The new e-mobility centre of competence will support future partnerships, projects and opportunities in the fast moving electric mobility sector.

Having successfully demonstrated the BOMBARDIER PRIMOVE technology with a Bombardier low floor tram in Augsburg, Germany, Bombardier is now further trialing the technology with a bus on a 125-meter stretch of road in Lommel, Belgium. The success of these first two initiatives encouraged Bombardier to launch the PrimoveCity program which will provide easy urban mobility for all types of electric vehicles. This summer tests will also begin with an automobile.

The aim of the PrimoveCity program is to change the game in electric mobility by providing easy, unlimited emission-free mobility in cities for all types of electric vehicles. Trams, buses, cars and trucks will be able to operate electrically without catenaries, cables, stops, long waits for batteries to recharge and, most importantly, they will be able to share the same infrastructure.

—Andre Navarri, President, Bombardier Transportation

After successfully concluding the initial tests for trams and buses, Bombardier will continue to test additional elements for cars aiming to make this technology available for commercial operation very soon. It is important to note that Bombardier’s objective is not to start manufacturing any type of non-rail vehicles but to offer the PRIMOVE technology to other industries also.

—Jeremie Desjardins, head of the PrimoveCity program, Bombardier Transportation

(A hat-tip to Tomas!)