Volvo C30 Electric Can Recharge Wirelessly In 2.5 Hours

October 29th, 2013 by Important Media Cross-Post

Originally published on Gas2.
By Christopher DeMorro.

Wireless inductive charging could turn one weakness of electric cars into an impressive strength, eliminating not just the need to go to the gas station, but to even plug-in. Volvo just completed a study of wireless charging on its all-electric C30, fully charging the Swedish EV in about two and a half hours.

The Volvo C30 electric car was initiated by a consortium of companies including Volvo, Bombardier Transportation, and coachbuilder Van Hool, and the study shows that there is a lot of potential for wireless charging in the transportation sector. There is already a trial project disguising wireless EV chargers as manhole covers in New York, and such a fueling system could eliminate the need for many of the hundreds of thousands of gas stations across America. The Volvo C30 electric has a 24 kWh battery that is on par with what other EVs, like the Nissan Leaf, are offering.

Of course that would also mean the elimination of millions of low-paying, part-time and full-time jobs. Yet the convenience of never having to worry about “filling up” your car, because the entire process could be automated, from charging to paying and everything in between, will certainly play into America’s simultaneously busy and lazy existence.

Source: Volvo

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Tags: Bombardier Transportation, C30 Electric, New York, Resonant Induction Charging, Van Hool, volvo, Volvo C30, Volvo Wireless Charging, Wireless Car Charger Technology, wireless charging

About the Author

Important Media Cross-Post -- CleanTechnica is one of 18 blogs in the Important Media blog network. With a bit of overlap in coverage, we sometimes repost some of the great content published by our sister sites.

NRG4All

We hear about concerns over cell phone radiation, and high tension electrical radiation, it makes one wonder if a similar objection may be raised here as well.
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Plan on it.
  
  The tinfoil hat crew is always looking for a new bloomer bunching issue.
Alex

Not to be a downer but I think we need to have a serious conversation in the EV community about electrical safety limits… forgetting about the wireless aspect, just the straight numbers quoted add up to at least a 10 kilowatt charger (that’s about 3 times the power draw of a Leaf charger)… This is definitely not something that will be practical for an existing home unless you have some serious industrial strength electrical equipment and power lines coming into your house.
- Bob_Wallace
  
  40 amp, 240 vac line? Clothes dryer/electric range territory.
  - Alex
    
    In my experience, normal homes don’t have 40 amp lines (at least in the US) and 10 kilowatts is at least double what even the most inefficient ovens or dryers i’ve seen can pull. Maybe it’s not too hard to install such an outlet, but I guess my main point is that rarely do people seem to talk about limitations to how fast we can charge EVs. Sure, 10 kilowatts might be safe if installed correctly, but what about 20kW?, or 30kW?… there might be a point where we have to accept a certain maximum charging speed in the future that is totally separate from battery charging ability and more tied to building safety
    - Bob_Wallace
      
      240 vac, 200 amps is pretty much standard service for new construction in the US. Older homes may have only a 100 amp service but many older homes will have been upgraded.
      
      A 40 amp line for EV charging would require a 40 amp circuit breaker in the box.
    - Doug
      
      My 7kW, 40A Level 2 charger fit right in without any need to upgrade my electrical equipment. Tesla also has a 90A, 20kW wall connector that installs in most newer homes without a problem.
      
      The question becomes why would you need this much charge at home? Fast charging is a on-the-road problem.
Ivor O’Connor

If my math it correct this could fully charge a Tesla P85 in 7 to 9 hours. How much weight does it add to the car? How efficient is it? (How much energy is lost compared to a direct connection.) How much does it cost? This, or something very similar to this, is obviously the future.
- Bob_Wallace
  
  Other wireless, inductive chargers are reported to be 95%+ efficient. One is reported at 97%.
  
  The power lost cost would be so minor that most people are likely to go wireless.
  
  13,000 miles per year. 0.3 kWh/mile. 3,900 kWh/year. $0.13/kWh. $507/year.
  
  5% loss = $25.35/year. $0.07/day to avoid plugging/unplugging.
  - Ivor O’Connor
    
    This is so incredible. These could be placed all about. The universal charging system. With RFID chips it could easily determine who to bill. This is so obviously the future.
    
    1) Additional weight:
    2) Efficiency: excellent
    3) Cost: