Charging The Future: Innovations To Keep The EVs Rolling

Yet even as we count the number (and discuss the designs) of new electric cars and trucks, we know that EVs can only roll into our lives if the necessary infrastructure is in place to power a new electricity and charging ecosystem. Here are a few notable projects underway around the world in the search for innovative solutions in charging systems:

Plug In To The Road

ElectReon is an Israeli startup breaking new ground in smart roads, those roadway designed to allow the wireless transmission of energy directly to EVs so they can charge while they drive. 

● EVs are equipped with ElectReon’s smart inverter, a receiver installed under the chassis that allows energy to transfer between the road and engine. 

● The smart inverter transfers energy directly from the smartroad, which is fitted with unique copper coiling beneath it that connects to the energy grid. The coil transfers energy from the road to the EV whenever it drives over a segment of the road.

● Wireless energy transfers boast 85% efficiency, managed by a single, smart energy network that evenly distributes charge amongst all other vehicles in the energy network — no waste!

● ElectReo is working on the Swedish island of Gotland to develop a functioning electric shuttle service: a 1.6 km strip of electric road to connect the town center of Visby to the island's airport with public e-buses. 

●A one kilometer strip of test “E-road” has been installed between Tel Aviv University and the city's train station, which founders say may someday enable Tel Aviv to “fully revert to electric, autonomous transportation.”  

Faster, At Scale

Charging EVs is getting faster and more efficient thanks to the multinational company Vishay Semiconductor Italiana, a leader in the design and production of semiconductors and electronic parts. Its Sinergy Project is taking it to scale:

● The company has developed new components to improve the speed with which electric and hybrid vehicles are charged. 

● Sinergy aims to industrialize the process of making these electronic power components. This will ensure their parts will be widely used by manufacturers worldwide. 

● With increased production, the company expects an increase in turnover of 32% by 2025 with a growth in employment of 14%. 

Always Charging Taxis

A government-funded “e-mobility” project will be launched in Germany, called the Taxi Charging Concept for Public Spaces (TALAKO in German), with plans to set up a fast-charging wireless infrastructure that could allow taxis to charge while they wait for their next customer. 

● Taxis will be equipped with inductive charging strips and connected to a network of other taxis that share electricity between one another.

● Charging range of 130 km, and a range extender on board that bring it 500 km if necessary.

● The TALAKO project will be tested for six months at a taxi company in Mülheim where a prototype plant has been built. Plans to build a plant in Cologne are expected as well.

● The project is intended to research the feasibility of intelligent taxi charging platforms, so that data-driven networking and innovative charging operations can pave the way towards truly autonomous transport.

ENGIE Takes Lead Role Globally

With transportation currently accounting for 23% of all CO2 emissions in the world, ENGIE is committed to taking a lead role in making mobility cleaner, no matter where in the world you are. That is why on Nov. 2017, ENGIE took the strategic step of acquiring the Dutch startup EV-Box, a leading electric charging service that already boasts a major global presence. 

Since 2010, the company has established itself as a market leader in quality, ultra-fast charging stations, charging management software and cloud-based energy solutions. The company offers the safest and most user-friendly charging experience to EV drivers across the world, serving individuals, businesses, facilities and major public charging networks. 

In 2017, EV-Box had 40,000 charge stations installed across 26 countries, including Belgium, France, Scandinavia, Germany, the UK and the USA. After ENGIE’s acquisition, they now have over 100,000 charging points, and are committed to raising that number to at least one million by 2025. 

ENGIE is proud to power the growth of a company committed to bringing clean energy and decarbonized transportation to every corner of the planet, as the Group continues to lead the charge towards a new, sustainable energy paradigm.