Objective
The objective of the EVIAC research programme is to develop the technology necessary for totally automatic charging systems for electric vehicles and the associated controls required to optimise the energy usage. The applications considered include electric passenger cars, vans, taxis, and industrial material handling equipment. In urban traffic, due to their beneficial effect on environment, electric vehicles are an important factor for improvement of traffic and more particularly for a healthier living environment. This has been clearly recognised by the major motorcar manufacturers who are now developing viable products that will come to the market in the very near future.
The energy supply infrastructure for electric vehicles is however an important domain on which extensive work remains to be done.
The outcome of the underlying project will be the realisation of a fully automatic charging system for electric road vehicles.
Several technological approaches will be followed in function of the application requirements:
high frequency charger with small sized coupling and passive mechanical alignment
asymmetrical charger with large sized coupling and no mechanical alignment, for different classes of vehicles
intermediate frequency (400 Hz) charger design
These solutions will be assessed thoroughly, with the emphasis on their operational value and EMC characteristics. A detailed testing and validation period, using different kinds of vehicles, is foreseen. Related issues such as the integration of charger and battery management, and the optimisation of energy usage in electric vehicle fleets are also considered in particular.
Dissemination of the technology, including standardisation work, will be specially taken care of.
It is foreseen that at the end of the project, about one year of additional development, principally through the integration of the system onboard production vehicles, will lead to full scale
marketability of the system. This will be concurrent with the forecast large scale development of the European electric vehicle market.
The partnership involved, containing vehicle manufacturers (RENAULT, PSA, ELCAT), equipment manufacturers (DASSAULT A.T. DAVIS DERBY), electricity producers (EDF, ENEL), transport operators (CGFTE), international organization (CITELEC) and research centres (VUB, INRIA), will allow a comprehensive multi disciplinary approach of the problem.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
1050 Bruxelles
Belgium