PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD
PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP FOR A BETTER WORLD Electric cars have been making headlines a lot lately, from all-electric commercial trucks to luxury-class green vehicles. Despite the trendiness of going green, electric cars are not quite mainstream yet. One setback is the daily need to plug in the car, a step owners might forget to do or hesitate about in inclement weather. A new technology for electric cars—wireless charging—promises to bring a new level of convenience and safety to these vehicles.
Virginia-based Evatran recently launched Plugless Power, an induction-based charging system for electric cars. The system allows drivers to pull into their charging station—the garage, for example—park and walk away. The vehicle automatically charges without the owner fussing over high-voltage cables.
The technology behind the system is induction charging—the same method your electric toothbrush uses. The car and the station both have induction coils that create an electromagnetic field. The device takes power from the electromagnetic field and converts it into electrical currents to charge the battery.
Plugless Power consists of two components. First, a specially designed vehicle adapter must be permanently mounted to the car in accordance with its charging capability. Second, a station with a floor-mounted parking block and a control tower is installed in the garage or driveway. When the vehicle drives over the station, the parking block automatically aligns itself with the car's adapter and begins charging. The universal device can be used with every electric vehicle on the market.
The Plugless Power system automatically and wirelessly charges an electric vehicle.
Most electric vehicles require high-voltage connections, so electric shock is a concern among many consumers. Safety is a major advantage of the Plugless Power charging system. Since no actual flow of electricity occurs between the vehicle and the charger and the owner does not have to handle power cords, the risk of electrocution is minimal.
Despite the safety and convenience of hands-free charging devices, a recent article in New Scientist notes that power is lost by transferring the energy through induction. The battery on electric vehicles is about 10 percent less efficient. According to the article, some scientists worry that this reduction in efficiency renders electric vehicles as green as gasoline-guzzling cars.
Still, the technology may encourage some consumers to finally buy an electric car. Would you use this device to charge your electric car? Would it push you to buy an electric vehicle? Sound off below in our comments section.
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