Renault is already working on charging electric vehicles while in motion

Today, sales of electric vehicles do not represent a significant share of the market, at least in Spain, although they are gradually gaining ground on traditional models. There are several factors every consumer considers when buying an electric car, but perhaps the two most important are their still limited range compared with a combustion engine, and the charging points for medium/long journeys.

Electric vehicle technology is relatively new and there is still a lot of ground to explore, so constant developments are part of everyday life. Recent examples include the electric crossover that Ford has in mind, with a range that would already reach 500 km, or the alliance agreed between Ford and the major German manufacturers to create a High-Power Electric Charging Network on the main European motorways.

But even if these two important factors are not an obstacle to choosing an electric vehicle, we must not forget another no less important point: the time it takes to recharge our car. This is something we must take very much into account when facing long journeys, unless we want to arrive late at our destination, since a fast charge will take us at least half an hour, provided we have the right plug where we are.

But what if we could solve this drawback by recharging our vehicle while in motion? Before you throw up your hands thinking about the major infrastructure that would be needed, first take a look at the project that Renault has under way to solve this paradox, in collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom.

This question is intended to be answered within the FABRIC project, which has funding of 9 million euros, provided in part by the European Union, and which brings together 25 European partners ranging from manufacturers to suppliers and infrastructure research bodies. The project aims to research and develop the technological and economic feasibility and the socio-environmental sustainability of dynamic wireless charging of electric vehicles.

For now, Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom have already installed the first 100 metres of the dynamic charging system at Satory, south of Versailles, where two Renault Kangoo Z.E. vehicles were able to charge simultaneously in both directions, achieving a charge of 20 kW at a speed of 100 km/h. Undoubtedly a great step forward, but this will not end here, as the project also intends to evaluate the operation and efficiency of energy transfer to vehicles, including identification and access authorisation, the agreement on the power level between the road and the vehicle, and the speed and alignment of the vehicle with respect to the track.

From now until December of this year, when the FABRIC project is scheduled to be completed, we will need to keep an eye on the progress made by Renault in this field, because it really looks very interesting.

Source | Renault