Fully Automatic Inductive Charging Systems, Requiring no Driver Int ervention, for Electric Vehicles

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

• social sciences › social geography › transport › electric vehicles

Programme(s)

• FP4-BRITE/EURAM 3 - Specific research and technological development programme in the field of industrial and materials technologies, 1994-1998

Topic(s)

• 0302 - Transports

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinator

Vrije Universiteit Brussel

Address

2,pleinlaan 2
1050 Bruxelles
Belgium

Participants (10)

CESI CENTRO ELETTROTECNICO SPERIMENTALE ITALIANO GIACINTO MOTTA SPA

Italy

Address

Via Rubattino 54
Milano

CITELEC

Belgium

Address

2,pleinlaan 2
1050 Bruxelles

Compagnie Générale Française de Transports et d'Entreprises

France

Address

169,avenue Georges Clemenceau
92735 Nanterre

Dassault Electronique S.A.

France

Address

55,quai Marcel Dassault 55
92214 Saint-cloud

Davis Derby Ltd.

United Kingdom

Address

Chequers Lane
DE21 6AW Derby

Electricité de France

France

Address

6,quai Watier 6
78401 Chatou

Fortum Power and Heat Oy

Finland

Address

Minkkikaty 1-3
04430 Jävenpää

GIE PSA Peugeot Citroën

France

Address

Route De Gizy
78140 Vélizy-villacoublay

Institut National de Recherche en Informatique et en Automatique - INRIA

France

Address

Domaine De Voluceau-rocquencourt
78153 Le Chesnay

Links

REGIENOV - RENAULT RECHERCHE ET INNOVATION

France

Address

9,avenue Du Golf 1
78288 Guyancourt