Why is Electric Green better?
There are lots of benefits to wireless charging but Electric Green’s wireless solution has several unique advantages that make it stand out:
Market Leading costs – our ‘1-2-Many’ solution with multiple pads in series delivers attractive economies of scale.
Easier Infrastructure Installation – our charger is easy to site discretely so there is no depot furniture, fewer accidents, fewer breakages and less clutter.
Easy Integration for OEMs – our multi-purpose OBC design offers a cost effective and pathway to factory fitted wireless AND plug-in charging.
Reduces TCO for fleet operators - our solution is bi-directional and hence able to generate revenue for vehicle owners and fleet operators via our Flexhub energy trading platform.
Why WPT?
Improved Consumer Experience – No trip hazards or dirty cables
Inclusive Charging Process - Regardless of ability/disability, age, logistics, as you can charge without even exiting the vehicle
Safer - Reduced staff movements around vehicles
Reduced O&M - No moving parts, so nothing to break
Easy to Connect - Improved access to V2X Revenue, delivering an enhanced TCO Model
Better Service availability through 'Opportunity Charging' - Charging happens seamlessly in the background, while business operations continue e.g. queuing taxis or ambulances
A charging solution consumers and fleet operators really want, so OEMs gain market share and increase EV sales.
Plug-in
- Requires heavy cables, which need storing in the vehicles, get wet, dirty, driven over, and damaged
- Exposes drivers to the risk of accidents when walking around vehicles to plug-in, especially in fleet depots
- Is often linked singularly (2 at most) to charging equipment meaning there is lots of unsightly street clutter and trip hazards
- At risk of vandalism as tethered cables on higher powered chargers are being stolen for their metal content
- Difficult to use for those with physical disabilities
Wireless
- Cable-free, meaning no dirty cables that break and cause trip hazards
- Extremely convenient and easy to use, therefore accelerating EV adoption rate
- Promotes engagement in Vehicle to Grid (V2G) connectivity as the vehicle can participate even when it’s not charging
- Safer for the driver, as there is no need to exit the vehicle or wait in areas that are often poorly lit
- Accessible for all drivers as charging can be initiated without leaving the vehicle
- Suitable for multiple locations, such as taxi ranks, when vehicles are only stationary for short periods
- Really the only viable solution for autonomous vehicles when there is no driver to plug-in
Market Leading Costs
Drivers who have experienced wireless charging always appreciate the enhanced experience, but they don’t like the associated higher costs of traditional wireless solutions. These generally consist of a dedicated charger for each pad. i.e. 1-2-1 with a fixed cost relationship.
Our infrastructure delivers power to multiple pads on a centralised backbone – we refer to this as ‘1-2-Many’. The number of pads and the maximum charging power per pad is dictated by the pad type and the size of the frequency converter, and we manage the power distribution using Dynamic Load Management. This enables us to realise economies of scale and achieve our goal of delivering the lowest cost per wireless chargepad.
An example for an all day carpark could include 50 x 5kW pads connected to a 250kW power supply for instance, providing 120 mile range over an 8 hour period for the average car.
Easier Infrastructure Installation
One of the problems with traditional charging infrastructure (both plug-in and wireless) is the associated charging ‘furniture’. It causes obstructions, gets driven into, takes up space and doesn’t improve the aesthetics. That’s because traditional wireless solutions use cabling that stops working efficiently beyond 6 metres, so there must be a charger next to each space.
Our CTS backbone cable can distribute power over longer distances meaning the power supply/frequency converter can be located away from the charging points. This means less land is needed, there are no obstructions to drive into and access to vehicles is easy. It also provides easier and flexible installation close to the incoming power supply.
Easy Integration for OEMs
Crucial to the adoption of wireless technology is easy integration into vehicle platforms. That’s why our solution is designed to accommodate both wireless and plug-in charging methods and can be factory fitted in a streamlined manner.
Our OBC technology combines functionality and reduces duplication of power electronics, which in turn reduces cooling, weight and space requirements. This gives end-users and OEMs the choice to have factory fitted wireless as standard and eliminates the expense impracticality of retro-fitting.
Reduces TCO for Fleet Operators
Electrifying fleets inevitably requires capital investment in both vehicles and charging infrastructure. However, our bi-directional functionality enables owners and operators to earn revenue by exporting energy in their batteries and offset these upfront costs. This income can be up to £500 per vehicle per annum, depending on the availability of the vehicle battery.
To maximise this revenue, the vehicles need to be available and connected to the network which is where wireless charging really makes a difference. This is because when stops are short, or the battery SoC is high, drivers generally won’t bother to, won’t be incentivized to, or won’t be able to plug-in. However, wireless charging/dis-charging makes connection so easy and convenient that drivers increase their vehicle availability in bi-directional schemes, thereby generating more revenue for the fleet operator.