This is a part of the EV Digital Opportunities series
This blog post will discuss the digital and software technologies involved in the wireless charging systems in EVs.
Wireless charging systems comprise a set of transmitters and receivers, In these systems, typically AC supply is converted into high frequency alternating current and this high frequency AC is supplied to transmitter coil. This creates an alternating magnetic field across the receiver coil and causes the production of AC power output in receiver coil.
The AC current at the receiver end is then rectified to DC and fed to the battery through Battery Management System (BMS).
Our specialty focus areas include 
Digital Opportunities in Electric Vehicles – EVIT
Summary
- Charging software that can enable wireless inter-vehicle charging and detect other vehicles that are going to run dry.
- Charging robots that can provide charging without human intervention at parking lots, malls, and public places.
- Software stacks and solutions for V2G technology that can improve efficiency while reducing the digital footprint.
- Software to monitor, maintain, predict and alert the personnel about load and grid balancing and also to let customers know about different power tariffs at different times of the day.
- Softwares to maintain, monitor, and control the amount/quality of power flow into the battery.
Let us look at some of the software and digital solutions that can be used in wireless charging systems for more efficient performance:
- Apple’s new wireless charging ecosystem- A drawing accompanying the patent, titled “Inductive charging between electronic devices,” shows a MacBook charging an iPhone and Apple Watch at the same time. The MacBook achieves this by embedding charging coils underneath the trackpad and inside the lid so devices can be charged while the MacBook is either open or closed. The patent indicates that reversible charging will, for instance, allow an iPhone to either charge or be charged by a MacBook. The software could be utilized to determine which device is closer to battery exhaustion and automatically select that device for charging. This can be adopted and tailored according to the EV echo system where an ideal EV can sense the vehicle in dry out condition nearby and can transfer some power to it. This adoption can reduce the range anxiety and can be a bigger positive if there is no charging station nearby.
- VW autonomous charging robot – VW has unveiled an actual working prototype of an autonomous charging robot for electric cars. The charging robot—started via an app or Car-to-X communication—operates totally autonomously. It independently steers to the vehicle to be charged and communicates with it: from opening the charging socket flap to connecting the plug and decoupling it. The entire charging process takes place without any human involvement whatsoever. To charge several vehicles at the same time, the mobile robot moves a mobile energy storage unit to the vehicle, connects it, and then uses this energy storage unit to charge the vehicle and repeats the process to charge other vehicles. Once the vehicle is fully charged, the robot independently collects the mobile energy storage unit and takes it back to the central charging station. they are equipped with 25 kWh battery packs each and they can charge a vehicle at 50 kW through DC fast-charging. The charging robot can move several battery wagons at the same time.
- Awesense Digital Energy Platform for V2G – Awesense has been selected as a partner in a project involving the integration of Electric Vehicle charging stations (EVSE), Energy Storage Systems (ESS), and a microgrid controller, to analyze, manage and optimize the use of these technologies in a pilot program focused on building resiliency and reducing costs. The goal of the project is to provide a next-generation DERMS solution with unparalleled situational awareness and the ability to make decisions and control DER based on real-time grid conditions. The joint solution, developed between Awesense and Doosan GridTech will integrate Awesense’s Digital Energy platform, and Doosan’s DERMS software, DERO. The microgrid will include Vehicle-to-Grid-enabled EVSE, capable of discharging stored energy from connected EVs back into the grid and provide support during an outage or other events. Located within and outside the microgrid, are utility-owned large scale ESS devices, controllable by the DERMS solution. These devices will also be leveraged to optimize for a set of pre-defined use-case scenarios, from congestion management to peak load reduction and voltage support.
- IoTecha’s Intelligent Power Platform for EV charging and V2G interfacing – ON™ Cloud offers Vehicle Grid Integration (VGI) and intelligent charging orchestration services. IoTecha leverages its unique Combined Charging System on Module (CCSoM) devices to collect vital operational data that IoT.ON™ uses to deliver easy to use and intuitive visualizations, as well as provide operational insights based on a wide range of analytics while improving ROI. IoT.ON™ Edge is the on-premises Smart Charging Manager that offers EVs demand-aware load sharing and load optimization. It has the capability to leverage IoT.ON™ cloud-based optimization algorithms or it can act autonomously in collaboration with the local BMS using available and forecasted load curve information.
- Vehicle to Grid (V2G) Software Stack – SEVENSTAX V2G is a next level Vehicle-to-Grid communication software stack for embedded systems focusing on an outstanding performance while reducing the memory footprint to a minimum. The software is compatible with AC & DC charging (across power levels and chargers), developed in compliance with ISO/IEC 15118 and DIN 70121, customizable for customer needs, and are optimized for embedded systems.
- Greenlots, the developer of a software platform that manages and communicates with chargers to shift EV charging load and balance the grid, operates on a technology-based licensing model. The company supplies and installs chargers, then licenses the V2G technology to charge station operators. The company also serves utilities by offering grid balancing software to allow grid operators to aggregate and shift EV loads. Acquired by Shell in January 2019, Greenlots works with retail and commercial customers to develop and optimize EV charging infrastructure, particularly fleets.
- Kisensumoffers a fleet and energy management software platform that allows fleet managers to control and optimize grid services, local renewable generation and energy storage. The company was acquired by ChargePoint as a value-add service in anticipation of fleet electrification. Ki sensum was the original developer of Open ADR (Automated Demand Response) technology, which was sold to Honeywell. In addition, the company developed an entire software suite to assign EVs, monitor charge states, and trade energy at night in the 4-second CAISO market. Kisensum has also run a pilot project with EVgo to develop a microgrid for DC fast charging in which Kisensum controlled the batteries and the flow of energy between vehicles and the grid.
- VOLTERIO is developing a revolutionary automatic connection device for electric vehicles. VOLTERIO is the smartest, fully automatic, and affordable high power charging solution. The system does not require precise parking and can be easily integrated/retrofitted to almost every electric vehicle architecture because of the small packaging size as well as the low complexity of the onboard unit. The system comprises a Vehicle Unit and a Ground Unit. Due to self-cantering, high power 360°-connector design, the angular orientation of the parking electric vehicle does not matter. The VOLTERIO ground unit starts automatically to communicate with the electric vehicle’s onboard unit via a secure WLAN connection when approaching. The electric vehicle must not be parked precisely over the ground unit. When charging is requested the ground unit automatically connects to the vehicle unit in the car’s underbody guided by an ultrasound-based micro-navigation system and the charging process starts automatically or can be scheduled by intelligent charging management.
- HEVO – offers a safe and effective method of charging EVs that eliminates the hazards and inconveniences associated with plug-in charging. As the driver approaches within 25 feet of the selected charging station, the app automatically displays visual and audible directions to assist the driver with vehicle alignment. This feature can also be interfaced with autonomous driving technology. Charging is as simple as a tap of a button. Remotely start and stop charging anytime, anywhere, while accessing real-time charging data via the App. The app informs you when the charging process is complete. Easily use the app to wirelessly pay your bill, monitor your receipts and evaluate your charging statistics on the fly.
- The Tiler charging tile with bicycle kickstand is providing wireless induction charger for e-bikes. Tiler is being pitched as a more cost-effective solution that takes up less space than docking and charging stations. The charging tile – the first of which was installed at the Rotterdam Ahoy convention centre last year – works through induction and is mounted in the ground, just like a paving slab. Charging starts when an e-bike with a compatible kickstand is parked on the tile. There are also plans for software that will make it possible to check availability and charging status and to book and pay for charging. The Tiler charging tile and charging kickstand are currently being sold as a package for €699, excluding installation costs.
- The Chinese startup HOFA improves the accessibility of wireless docking stations for public eBikes as their solution does not require any human intervention. It charges the eBikes when parked at the correct spot, eliminates the need for cables and minimizes vandalism at public eBike charging stations.
- REDCAT Labs, a Research, Engineering & Development Centre for Advanced Technologies Lab with interest in innovation in the different areas like Automation, Transportation, Energy Infrastructure, Logistics, Industrial Equipment and Machinery. They are working on Smart Automotive Systems, Battery Technology and smart energy infrastructure on IoT and AI platforms.
- Wiferion offers inductive charging solutions and proprietary inductive L-ion batteries which can be swapped with any present commercial EVs. The charger and battery systems provide a fast charging ecosystem for industrial vehicles, reducing idle time, increasing output and reducing operational costs. The contactless charging system for automated guided vehicles (AGVs), robots and industrial trucks in industrial environments. The patented charging technology from Wiferion consists of a stationary transmitter unit with a wallbox and charging pad as well as receiving electronics that are installed in the AGVs and industrial trucks via plug & play.
- Meshcrafts involves itself in three segments of the charging stations service where it provides application and location services to users, analytics based on IoT/Cloud data and energy management software to charging network providers and business. The company creates a complete ecosystem where energy utilization is managed effectively to reduce any form of waste at any level. It monitors chargers, used electricity, available energy so that all businesses involved with charging stations receive economic benefits.
This is a part of the EV Digital Opportunities series
Posts in the series
- EVs and Big Data, Analytics, Customized learning
- EV and IoT / Cloud Solutions, Sensors, Connectivity, Database
- EV and AI / ML, Robotics, Customised learning
- EV mobile software applications, Payment gateways, Shared network
- EV and VR/AR solutions, Multimedia, Image processing
- EV fleet management software, Payment apps, Analytics software
- EV BMS software, PCB, PLC, Hardware circuits
- EV navigation systems software, Multimedia, Satellite communication, Image processing
- EV testing, design and simulation software, Programming, Framework
- EV charging software, Payment gateways, PCB, POS, Hardware circuits, Robotics
- EV Processes automation Softwares, ERP, Robotics
Keywords: V2X monitoring software, Wireless charging software, Autonomous charging, Digital energy platform, Cloud-connected charging networks, Software stacks for V2X, Automated demand response, Autonomous wired charging, Autonomous wireless charging, Pression sensors, Robotic soft hands, Autonomous charging robots.
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