Wireless Charging is the Future of the Electric Vehicle Industry

In 2020, consumers spent $120 billion on electric cars, up by 50% from 2019, which breaks down to a 41% rise in sales and a 6% rise in average prices of electric cars. It won't be long before every household/home has an electric car. It's been a decade since there has been an incredible insurgence in EVs. The increasing price of gas and environmental concerns have popped users out of good old conventional vehicles. More and more users are moving to adopt Electric Vehicles. The existing automakers, such as Honda, Toyota, etc., move their supply lines to EVs. One of the main reasons for this growth has been the gas price going up, and the cost of charging EVs remains comparatively less (source).

We will be publishing a series of a blog focused on EV Charging. We will be discussing technology, Industry Growth, Mergers & Acquisitions, Importance of Intellectual Property say Patents, among others. This blog is the first from the lot.

The EV charging technology has been around since the early 1900s, when General Electric first introduced battery swapping for exchanging batteries in electric cars. Over the decade, the US Energy Department has created 18,000 residential, commercial, and public chargers (8000 public chargers). You might have heard some local news about a new electric vehicle charging station opening in or around your city by some automobile company. EV charging is going through rapid development in the US, China, and Europe. We would have seen a lot more robust system now if there had been no rise in the popularity of gas-powered vehicles.

Everyone needs a fast charge and does not want to wait till the coffee gets cold.

As per recent developments, ABB's new terra 360 modular charge can simultaneously charge up to 4 vehicles and charge a car in less than 15 minutes. Another UK-based company Voltempo claims to charge vehicles using hyper charging in less than 6 minutes; interestingly, the company does not have any significant patents.

There are other ways to navigate the wait time. For instance, Starbucks works with Volvo and ChargePoint to install charging stations in its parking lots. So, when you are inside the Starbucks & getting your snack or coffee, your car is getting charged! How amazing would it be once implemented? It's much like an upgrade from Tesla Destination Charging.

It is essential to understand the basic concept of EV Charging. But how do electric vehicle charge stations work? Now to learn about what and how an electric vehicle charging station works.

A simple example of Charging an EV from our home. The power grid in our homes operates on Alternating Current (AC). A converter converts the AC power from the grid to DC to transfer it to the battery. A battery is charged with a Direct Current (DC) like our smartphone batteries but at a higher voltage level. There are different levels of EV Charging

As shown in the above diagram, below are some brief specifications on AC Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 charging -

AC Level 1 Charging

Level 1 chargers are the least expensive mode of charging, but they also take maximum time to charge the EV battery. Level 1 chargers use a 120 V AC, a standard plug outlet, like a household connection. Unlike other charging technology, no additional equipment be installed in Level 1 charging. These chargers may take up to 20 hrs to charge. Webasto, Orion, etc., are among the manufacturers of Level 1 chargers.

AC Level 2 Charging

Level 2 charging technology is used for both domestic and commercial charging stations. It uses a 240 V AC and can't be plugged directly into a standard wall outlet. Instead, these systems are usually installed by a professional electrician. They can fully charge an electric car battery in as little as two hrs to up to 7 hrs. Level 2 charging infrastructure manufacturers include Grizzle, ClipperCreek, ChargePoint, Tesla, Siemens, etc.

DC Fast Charging (A.k.a. Level 3 Charging)

In this more power and faster charging system, the AC from the grid is converted to DC before it enters the car, which is within a charging station. It operates at powers ranging from 25 kilowatts to more than 350 kilowatts. DC Fast Chargers can offer a range of 60 to 100 miles in just 20 minutes of charging. They are generally used only in commercial and industrial applications as they require highly specialized, high-powered equipment to install and maintain.

DC Fast Chargers are not applicable in all vehicles as most plug-in hybrid EVs do not have this charging compatibility. Tesla, Mitsubishi, and Nissan manufacture charging infrastructure for electric DC Fast Charging enabled cars

Wireless Charging is the Future of EV Charging. Apart from wired EV Charging, Wireless Charging for EVs is also gaining attraction as wireless charging technology allows getting rid of plugs and cables. Siemens, BMW, WiTricity, Qualcomm, and Evatran group are major wireless charging manufacturers for EVs. Schematic Diagram for EV Wireless Charging

Wireless charging systems for EVs can be categorized into two categories based on application:

Static Wireless Charging,
Dynamic Wireless Charging

Static Wireless Charging System (SWCS)

A widely used wireless charging system for EVs can be used by simply parking at the parking spot or in the garage, which is incorporated with a wireless charging system (WCS). The system consists of a transmitter fitted underneath the ground (connected with a power grid), and the receiver is underneath the vehicle. The vehicle is lined up along the transmitter, and the receiver & the driver can leave it for charging. AC supply power level, the distance between the transmitter & receiver, and their pad sizes affect the charging time of the vehicle. This Static Wireless Charing System is more prominent where an EV is parked for an extended interval, like in a home garage or office parking.

Dynamic Wireless Charging System (DWCS):

As the name indicates, the vehicle gets charged when in motion. The power transfers over the air from a stationary transmitter to the receiver coil fitted in a moving vehicle. An EV gets charged when driven over transmitter coils embedded under the road's surface in this charging infrastructure. Qualcomm and ElectRoad have successfully tested dynamically powering vehicles while they are in motion. These are expected to appear primarily on buses or transport trucks running on fixed routes.

The number of companies in the EV Charging space is growing. As technological innovations become more intense and higher in demand, patenting the technology becomes essential for automobile companies to make the first significant moves and lay a strong foundation for themselves. As for patents, we will likely see licensing or collaboration arrangements between competitors to bring in new technical expertise. These decisions will be critical and require a solid understanding and sense of judgment of what kinds of IPs would be more resourceful and could be exploited.

The below diagram provides the list of top assignees for granted and alive patents in the field of EV Charging.

A company should focus on an early IP strategy to get ahead and broader it's business perspectives. One such example is Witricity which acquired over 1500 assets from Qualcomm related to Wireless Charging in 2019. We will be covering more details in further blogs.

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*Disclaimer: This report is based on information that is publicly available and is considered to be reliable. However, Lumenci cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or reliability of this data.

Author

Chirayu Parashar