EL PASO, TX – Researchers at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP) are developing an innovative solution to address one of the biggest challenges for electric vehicles (EVs): efficient and affordable charging.
Their study, published in the journal IEEE Access, focuses on dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) roadway technology, a system that would allow EVs to charge while driving, without the need to stop at a charging station.
The project is part of an initiative supported by the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, with the goal of transforming road infrastructure and accelerating the adoption of EVs. The key to this technology lies in the integration of transmitter pads in the pavement, capable of supplying power to moving vehicles.
According to Dr. Paras Mandal, professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at UTEP and principal investigator of the study, the transition to electrified transportation requires meticulous planning, especially in terms of power demand on the electric grid. To address this challenge, his team developed an innovative mathematical model called modified Toeplitz convolution (mCONV), which allows predicting the impact of DWPT on the power grid by considering variables such as vehicle flow, charging distances, and different types of vehicles.
Currently, most electric vehicles rely on fixed charging stations or residential connections, options that can be slow, expensive or inaccessible. Dynamic on-road charging could eliminate so-called “range anxiety” among drivers, encourage wider adoption of EVs, and contribute to reductions in fossil fuel consumption and environmental pollution.
The UTEP study is part of the ASPIRE (Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification) research group, a consortium of universities that includes Utah State University, Purdue University, the University of Colorado Boulder and the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Its goal is to develop sustainable technology solutions for the future of electrified transportation.
“Understanding the impact of wireless charging on electric system stability is critical before large-scale implementation,” Mandal explained. The UTEP team continues to work on optimizing this model to provide key information to utilities and transport authorities to facilitate the transition to a more sustainable and efficient road infrastructure.
