Ricardo licenses Qualcomm wireless EV charging technology for commercialization
01 April 2016
Ricardo has licensed Qualcomm Halo Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging (WEVC) technology to commercialize WEVC systems for Plug-In Hybrid (PHEVs) and Electric Vehicles (EVs). (Earlier post.)
Under the terms of the agreement, Qualcomm has granted to Ricardo a royalty-bearing technology license to develop, make and supply WEVC systems for automobile manufacturers. Qualcomm subsidiaries will provide technical expertise and engineering support.
Qualcomm Halo uses high-power, resonant magnetic inductive wireless energy transfer and supports a relatively wide air gap between base charging unit (BCU) and vehicle charging unit (VCU). The charging pad’s multi-coil design (“Double “D” Quadrature”) delivers high energy-transfer efficiency and high power—3.3 kW, 6.6 kW or 20 kW—even if the pads are misaligned.
The high degree of tolerance in both the vertical (z) and lateral (x,y) planes means drivers do not have to park accurately or need complex and expensive on-board alignment systems.
Power is converted to Direct Current (DC) by the on-board controller and used to charge the vehicle’s batteries.
Halo multi-coil technology delivers magnetic interoperability across single coil, solenoid & multi-coil vehicle pads and supports various air gaps.
Ricardo sees WEVC as an enabling technology for automakers to drive mass adoption of EV/PHEVs by simplifying the charging challenge. Ricardo views Qualcomm Halo technology as an advanced WEVC solution that has the potential to encourage more widespread adoption of EVs, meeting the requirements of automakers and drivers for simple and convenient EV charging.
Ricardo said that working with Qualcomm will enable it to design and build WEVC systems that meet automakers’ requirements for wireless charging today and in the future, as demand becomes more prevalent for higher power, faster charging, different deployment methods such as buried charging pads, and for WEVC systems which charge SUVs, taxis and autonomous vehicles.
Wireless charging is a potentially very promising enabler for more widespread adoption of pure electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, with consequent environmental benefits. I am extremely pleased, therefore, that through the agreement announced today, Ricardo is now able to engineer solutions based on Qualcomm Halo technology, as an integral part of our own portfolio of low and zero emission vehicle and transportation technologies.
—Dave Shemmans, CEO of Ricardo
Ricardo will benefit from comprehensive engineering support provided by Qualcomm subsidiaries which aims to enhance their ability to develop commercially viable and technically advanced WEVC systems and will support the future design of evolving WEVC systems.
Qualcomm Halo WEVC technology has been developed with a focus on cost and package optimization, power, interoperability, and co-existence with vehicles systems. An advanced technology pipeline delivers ongoing improvements, supporting standardized and interoperable WEVC technology suitable for stationary and, eventually, dynamic charging.
This is the way to recharge BEVs and PHEVs. Future battery EVs will have to include a choice of on-board charging coil to accommodate.
This technology is not limited to 20 KW. A 50 KW unit is already offered with high possibility to go higher in the not too distant future?
Posted by: HarveyD | 01 April 2016 at 07:59 AM
It is inefficient and not enough power to compete with wired transfer. Tesla's approach is clearly superior. Also in 10 years Tesla will increase the capacity of these superchargers to 300k watt and also upgrade their cars to take that charge. You will never be able to do that wirelessly at 99% efficiency in a car. The mass market car will be a self-driving Taxi that does 100k miles per year so it will use a lot of electricity and efficiency and charging time will be important for profitability so forget about wireless charging for automobiles. Phones and PC and other small stuff Yes but not cars.
Posted by: Account Deleted | 01 April 2016 at 08:47 AM
Not so sure that the majority of BEV and PHEV owners will not buy the cordless/wireless charging option, even if it means an extra 5% loss?
My wife does not use 'serve yourself' gas stations because of the dirty cold fuel feeding hose etc. I doubt that she would use an e-charging station where she has to handle the cable/connector on cold days.
Our first extended range BEV/PHEV would have to be equipped with a powerful wireless charging option.
I'm guessing but it may be possible to have both 200 KW wired and 50+ KW wireless charging on future e-cars?
Posted by: HarveyD | 01 April 2016 at 12:14 PM
HarveyD, the solution you propose (i.e. To have both 200kW wired and 50= kW wireless charging) seems to be most promising in the short and medium terms. In the long run, however, wireless charging (alone) is likely to lead the way.
Posted by: Juan Carlos Zuleta | 02 April 2016 at 09:06 PM