Building an alternative renewable power distribution system to the electrical grid using dynamic charging of eVehicles

1. Building an alternative renewable power distribution system to the electrical grid using dynamic charging of eVehicles August 12, 2013 Bill.st.arnaud@gmail.com

2. Executive Summary • Charging eVehicles as they move significantly reduces size and weight of batteries as vehicle only needs enough battery capacity to get to next dynamic charging station a few kilometers away • It also allows eVehicles to become an energy transport system in addition to carrying people and goods • eVehicle can be used to transport energy from small distributed solar panels in rural or suburban areas to cities or other areas as needed • Technology already working for buses in various cities around the world

3. Current limitations of eVehicles (EV) • High capital cost due to large cost of batteries • High operating cost because batteries need to be replaced every 2-5 years • Limited range, especially in cold weather when battery capacity is reduced • Battery capacity reduced by up to 1/3 if air conditioning or cabin heating is required • Long time to re-charge between trips • So a small number of short trips within a day can deplete batteries • Inhibits spontaneity of taking a long trip because of uncertainty of charge state • Battery powered trucks and buses are more problematic in terms of range and cost

4. Alternative to the battery • Rather than waiting for perfect battery why not change the charging system? • Old world thinking that vehicles must be stationary to be refueled. • This was true when using fossil fuels • But with electric vehicles there is no reason why they cannot be charged while on the move • Dynamic (on the move) charging • Only 1/5 of battery capacity required compared to regular eVehicle

5. Dynamic Charging • The current vision for most eVehicles is stationary charging at home or at the office • With dynamic mobile  charging, the eVehicle can be charged as it is travelling along the highway using power from roadside solar panels and/or windmills • Technology already in use for public bus transportation in various cities • eVehicle can then be used to deliver this energy as a backup or primary power source at the home or office, rather than consuming electricity at destination • eVehicle then would become a competitor to the electrical grid for delivering renewable energy.

6. Advantages of dynamic charging • Smaller number of batteries possible -reducing capital costs • Frequent charging of batteries prevents battery depletion and longer life • Reduces concerns of range anxiety • Heavier eVehicles such as trucks and buses are realistically possible • Vehicle can be charged enroute and then used as an alternate power source for the home or business –vehicle to grid or vehicle to business • Eventually concepts of “packet” based power are conceivable leading to future “Energy Internet”

7. Two alternative approaches • Wireless Dynamic charging: Two approaches: • Inductive charging uses the electromagnetic field to transfer energy between two objects in close • Magnetic resonance uses the magnetic coupling of two objects exchanging energy through their varying or oscillating magnetic fields. • Wireless charging difficult to maintain in heavy traffic and inclement weather such as ice and snow • Concerns about impact on embedded medical devices such as pace makers from strong magnetic fields • Risks of fire if small pieces of metal debris or on charging pad • Overhead Capacitive Dynamic Charging • uses overhead “electrical umbrellas” • In operation in several cities around the world with public buses • Well proven technology

8. SAE standards for wireless charging • SAE has launched a taskforce (SAE J2954) on the “Wireless Charging of Electric and Plug-in Electric Vehicles”—i.e. EVs and PHEVs. • The taskforce goal is to establish performance and safety limits for wireless power transfer for automotive applications while establishing a minimum interoperability requirement. • The scope of the work covers light duty passenger EVs and PHEVs and buses. Charging locations to be considered include residential; on-road (static and dynamic)

9. New IEEE pre-standardization for dynamic wireless charging • Power Transfer Industry Connections Activity. • Motivation and goal: This IEEE Standards Association Industry Connection Activity is related to pre--‐standardization efforts in the domain of Electric Vehicle Wireless Power Transfer with a particular focus on dynamic wireless charging as these efforts address the range limitation of electric vehicles as well as the cost aspect of the vehicle energy storage and complement the current standardization activities of the SAE J2954)

10. German prototype induction dynamic charging • http://www.gizmag.com/drawing-power-from-the-road/12874/

11. New Zealand HaloIPT Induction Dynamic Charging http://www.haloipt.com/

12. Peugeot EX1 • First all electric race car to use dynamic charging • http://www.gizmag.com/dynamic-charging-for-electric-race-cars/19344/

13. The e-quickie • Student project to build dynamic charged ebike • http://www.gizmag.com/e-quickie-electric-vehicle-with-wireless-energy-transmission/16346/

14. Korean On Line Electric Vehicle • http://www.gizmag.com/kaist-olev-electric-vehicle/12557/

15. KAIST reveals proof of concept dynamic charging in city park • Batteries 1/5 the size required for normal eVehicle • http://www.gizmag.com/kaist-proof-of-concept-olev-power-road/14454/

16. Branbant NL to deploy world’s first dynamic mobile charging • Starting in mid -2013 the demonstration project will use inductive charging to charge vehicles as they drive a special lane in the highway.   • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBTx87xiscs • http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/10/glowing-roads/

17. Shanghai Capabus – Capacitive Dynamic Charging China is experimenting with a new form of electric bus, known as Capabus, which runs without continuous overhead lines (is an autonomous vehicle) by using power stored in large onboard electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), which are quickly recharged whenever the vehicle stops at any bus stop (under so-called electric umbrellas), and fully charged in the terminus. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capa_vehicle

18. Opbrid Fast Charging • Opbrid Introduces New Overhead Fast-Charging System for Buses; Leveraging Lithium Titanate (nLTO) Battery Technology for Rapid Charge Hybrids • http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/10/opbrid-20101006.html

19. Flash Charging of Buses • 15 second charging of bus at each stop • http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/9315e568e4c6a1f8c1257b7400302fcd.aspx

20. Volvo’s electric i-road • Volvo research into a future where trucks and buses continuously are supplied with electric power without carrying large batteries. Instead, power lines are built into the surface of the road. This could be a future solution for long-distance trucks and buses running on electricity. • http://news.volvogroup.com/2013/05/23/the-road-of-tomorrow-is-electric/

21. Siemens dynamic charging for trucks http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-13746_7-57430211-48/siemens-electrifies-trucks-with-trolley-technology/

22. Overhead Charging Umbrellas for cars • Overhead charging umbrellas situated every few kilometers • Charging umbrellas can also be located at drive through restaurants, banks, etc. • https://lmco.brightidea.com/ct/ct_a_view_idea.bix?c=DDB6E8A8-81B8-4F5E-8B70-FCB95B8821EA&idea_id=20EDD0CA-0550-4C4A-A40C-89FE35C2F7BA • Excellent YouTube video: • http://goo.gl/7ecGq

23. Next generation dynamic charging Roadside solar panel array Inverter Surplus power to Grid for feed in tariff More details: http://goo.gl/7ecGq Ultra-capacitor Charging rail -umbrella eVehicle with charging whip 20 – 100 meters

24. How does it work http://goo.gl/7ecGq • Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels charge ultra-capacitor connected to a charge rail • When eVehicle approaches charge rail it extends charging whip • Ultra-capacitor discharges onto onboard ultra-capacitor in eVehicle through charging whip • Onboard ultra-capacitor slowly discharges to vehicle batteries • Potential demonstrated with Shanghai buses at Washington U • When solar panel or windmill is not charging vehicles it can be used to feed power into grid • FIT programs will pay 80.5 cents/kwh • Annual payback of 6-10%

25. Rough Calculations • Electric car consumes 200-400 Whr/km • Assume only one electric car on highway every hour • Reasonable assumption given number of eVehicles on road today • Therefore only need 4-5 panel 150W panel array every kilometer • Allowing for panel and capacitor inefficiencies • As number and frequency of vehicles increases, size of and frequency arrays will need to be increased • 4 lane divided highway has approximately 3000 cars/hr maximum capacity • Maximum power draw per km would be 200-400 whr/km x 3000 cars = .6 -1.2 Mw/km • Approximately 10,000 panels required per km at peak traffic load

26. Case Study Golf Course • Assume : • Golf course with dynamic charge umbrella at each hole • Typical golf cart consumption 200 wh/km • Course distance 10km or average .5km hole • Need to charge golf cart 100 wh to get to next hole • 2 Golf carts arriving at a given hole every 7-8 minutes • Solar capacity = 2 x 100 wh x 9 arrivals/hr = 1.8 kwh • Assuming 150w panels = 12-15 panels average per hole • Whip capacity: • Assume golf cart stays under charging umbrella for one minute= 6000 watts • Approx 5000 volts at 1A or 250v at 20A

27. Why not use power from grid for dynamic charging? • Most grid systems have large percentage of coal power • CO2 savings are marginal • Scant CO2 Benefit from China’s Coal-Powered Electric Cars • http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/2011/10/scant-co2-benefit-from-chinas-coal.html • Within 3- 4 years it is expected electricity from solar panels will be cheaper than from grid • http://e360.yale.edu/feature/solar_power_nrg_president_crane_ties_future_to_renewable_energy/2462/ • Grid interconnection fees, transformers, debt retirement charges, etc significantly drive up costs • However in some locations using solar panel to feed power to grid may allow for additional revenue

28. Why not use fixed static charging stations? • Fixed charging stations are difficult to find and get blocked by current charging vehicle • Limited capability to charge multiple vehicles at the same time • Fixed charging stations require driver to get out of vehicle and connect charging cable • Current systems may require several hours to provide full charge • Revenue per vehicle and per station very small • Static or fixed charging assumes infrequent charges with deep charging cycles and large battery capacity versus dynamic charging assumes frequent charges with small charging cycles and smaller battery capacity

29. Solar Panels for Charging EV Doesn’t Work • Previous attempts to use solar panels for static charging of eVehicles have not been very successful • Very large solar arrays are required because need to recharge depleted battery bank • Doesn’t work at night time or on cloud days • Design premised that each vehicle requires long deep charge cycle • With dynamic charging only have to provide enough power to get to next charging station • Don’t need to design to recharge depleted batteries • Solar panel capacity per charge therefore considerably less • Dynamic charging also means smaller battery capacity required which reduces vehicle weight and improves performance and cost • Up to 1/5 battery capacity required with dynamic charging

30. Initial target markets • Drive through banks, fast food restaurants, parking garages, universities, golf courses, etc • “Will that be fries with your free electrical charge?” • Complete package of PV system on roof connected to ultra-capacitor and charge rail • When PV is not charging vehicles it can be making money from feed in tariff • Guaranteed 6-10% return even if not a single vehicle charged • Initial target vehicles: campus service vehicles, utility fleets, golf carts, ride sharing, early EV adopters • Eventually deployed at toll plazas, on/off ramps, stop lights and intersections

31. The Future – “Energy Internet” • eVehicle becomes more than a human transportation system – it also becomes an energy transport system to transfer renewable energy between dynamic charging stations • E.g. power from under utilized charging stations can be delivered by eVehicle to charging stations that are heavily used • Or power can be brought to the home to provide backup power to the home • Dynamic charging station becomes energy packet router/switch! • Rather than eVehicle coming home with depleted batteries, instead it comes home fully charged in order to provide power to the home • eVehicle becomes competitive alternative to the electrical grid • http://Green-broadband.blogspot.com

32. “Packetized Power” with autonomous eVehicles • Autonomous eVehicles could be used to capture renewable power from solar panels along highways to deliver to remote sites • Alternative back up power source instead of diesel generators • Autonomous vehicles could store and forward power to other vehicles at packet power routing points • Where practical can be also used to carry passengers – next generation ZipCar

33. Suburban sprawl may be answer to global warming • Suburban lifestyle with distributed solar panels on every house with dynamic charging of vehicles driving by the house • Rather than charging vehicles at home and driving to work or shopping, vehicle is charged on the way to and from work or shopping • eVehicle can then be used for supplementary power during the day at work, or during the night at home • Suburban sprawl to power cities of the future • http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/news/2013/07/745.asp • How suburban sprawl paradoxically could be the answer to global warming • http://goo.gl/bXO6x

34. More on Energy Internet • How suburban sprawl paradoxically could be the answer to global warminghttp://goo.gl/bXO6x • Green Investment Opportunity for small business - on the move electric car charginghttp://goo.gl/c44Tv • Dynamic Charging and Why Energy needs to be Free to reduce CO2http://goo.gl/LQQum • Packet Based Energy Delivery Systemshttp://goo.gl/pZEdE • Electric roads and Internet will allow coast to coast driving with no stopping and no emissionshttp://goo.gl/lMmLy

35. Let’s Keep The Conversation Going Bill St. Arnaud is a R&E Network and Green IT consultant who works with clients on a variety of subjects such as the next generation research and education and Internet networks. He also works with clients to develop practical solutions to reduce GHG emissions such as free broadband and electrical highways (See http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/) . For more about me please see http://goo.gl/pOpwB Bill.St.Arnaud@gmail.com Blogs http://green-broadband.blogspot.com E-mail Twitter http://twitter.com/BillStArnaud

36. E1-Assist Concept • EV charging system that makes use of existing technology • System comes as a trailer-like unit hauled by a truck. Private electric cars can simply merge with the truck and accomplish any energy needs on the go. • http://www.environmentteam.com/concept/category/futuristic-vehicles/

37. Hybrid Transport System • Similar concept for capacitive charging proposed in French patent • Interesting concept of alternating polarity on single rail • http://www.hybrid-engine-hope.com/hybrid_transport_system

38. Arizona Dynamic Charging Solar Train • Proposed solar train between Phoenix and Tuscon • Solar panels will power train and provide surplus power to the grid • http://www.solarbullet.org/

39. Things that need to be researched • Design of charging whip and charging rail to ensure good contact at reasonable high speed • How much current, and how fast, can one ultra-capacitor discharge to another capacitor? • Length of charging rail and time need to charge? • Communications system and signaling between eVehicle and dynamic charging station • How to handle multiple eVehicles going through charging system at the same time?