Filed under: Emerging Technologies, EV/Plug-in
Intel updates the potential of wireless electric charging
Photo by rintakumpu. Licensed under Creative Commons license 2.0.
It's been over a year since we wrote about WiTricity, the MIT-developed wireless charging system. While we're still a long, long way from powering all-electric automobiles without heavy and expensive batteries, there is an update on the cordless power idea, this time from Intel. According to AFP, Intel's chief technology officer Justin Rattner demonstrated the "Wireless Energy Resonant Link" in San Francisco this week and sent enough power through the air to light up a 60 watt bulb. Too cool. This promted an analyst to comment that, "Initially it eliminates chargers and eventually it eliminates batteries all together." Ener1 or A123 have nothing to worry about just yet, but for those of you who like to look long term, this update presents a glimpse of what might be available in a few decades.
One of those long-termer is ABG tipster Darren S., who wrote in to say, The impact this has on the auto industry is HUGE. With this technology cars would not need to have huge battery packs because power could be broadcast directly in them, rendering battery packs only for when you go "off the broadcast grid" so to speak. You could drive your electric car around and if you're in broadcast range of power, you'd never need worry about ever recharging your battery. You'd never need a drop of fuel again. Why haven't you guys written about this. The first news of it came out last year from MIT. Follow it.
We'll defend ourselves by saying that we did cover this topic last year. But we're happy to bring it up again to see where our readers stand on the topic this year. Is wireless charging going to show up in roads or parking lots any time soon?
[Source: AFP]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
George Krpan 7:49PM (8/22/2008)
Nikola Tesla is giggling in his grave.
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EVmecheng 8:40PM (8/22/2008)
two concerns if this system was widely used:
1. electro magnetic fields causing harmful longterm effects on humans? Long term medical tesing is needed.
2. overall efficiency of the system? How much energy do you get out versus how much you put in? I assume less than a direct wire connection, so is that really "green?"
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Chris M 9:12PM (8/22/2008)
1. Those who are worried about cell phones causing cancer are going to absolutely freak out about this, as the electromagnetic waves are several hundred times stronger. That there is no real risk doesn't quiet their fears.
2. Don't know the details, but the efficiency will be less than any direct wired connections, as there are conversion losses and some EM emission losses as well. Increasing distance will likely decrease efficiency, and it might not have sufficient range for practical EV use. Of course, if the efficiency is high enough, the advantages might outweight the loss of energy.
There are other potential problems. How would metering and regulation work? Lack of income potential sank Teslas "wireless energy" plan.
What if something else intercepts and absorbs the power beam? Not only would that waste energy, that object could become dangerously hot or even become a shock hazard.
why not the LS2LS7? 9:54PM (8/22/2008)
This is nothing new. This is how the EV1 charged.
You're just making an air core transformer with the two coils. It's not terribly efficient. At any kind of distance, you can only send trivial amounts of power.
There are also significant issues with standing between the two coils. Basically it's like being in an MRI. If you're wearing/carrying anything metal, you'll be in a world of hurt. At higher powers, even not if you aren't carrying anything metal you can be in trouble, because you have iron in your blood.
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Andy 10:01PM (8/22/2008)
Yah and people were worried about cell phone radiation! (ditto #3)
A cell phone radiates in milliwatts. A car draws in the tens of kilowatts. That's not hundreds of times stronger, that's 10e3/10e-3= a MILLIONs of times stronger!
Wireless is good for sending information... not so good for sending power. Do you really want your glasses, wristwatch, iPod, pacemaker, hair pins, jewlry, car body etc... to spontaneously heat up like your hairdryer??
If not, wireless power will remain limited to very short range inductive coupling much like the EV1 paddle chargers.
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stevefazek 11:02PM (8/22/2008)
This has been around for 80 years. Its nothing new at all. Its basically a small magnetron lol
RFID uses wireless energy transfer. Look at induction heating That transfers several kilowatts over a few inches.
The biggest problem is the more range means more power. It also isn't that efficient so much of the energy is lost due to heat.
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Sean 8:46AM (8/23/2008)
Easy there, guys.
From the source article: "Most importantly, the electricity was transmitted without zapping anything or anyone that got between the sending and receiving units."
"It turns out the human body is not affected by magnetic fields; it is affected by elective [I think they mean electric] fields. So what we are doing is transmitting energy using the magnetic field not the electric field."
While it's not clear to me how they're doing this (other than the air-core transformer idea,) they're focused on _safe_ wireless power delivery. Just delivering power wirelessly is not new. Making it safe to do is the key and that's what they're working on.
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Matt Lenart 8:59AM (8/23/2008)
useless technology, useless blog.
*heavy and expensive* batteries were ready for primetime many years ago. lets stop focusing our attention further and further into the future, release a viable electric car (which is more than possible at a fair price) and let consumers decide.
lets stop worrying about deploying a ridiculously expensive hydrogen/"witricity" infrastructure and start phasing out ICE. deploying wires would be easier, safer, and cheaper except we'd all be driving street cars.
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Nocturne 5:30PM (8/25/2008)
I see a HUGE need for this technology for recharge stations in condos and apartment garages. This is something that could be retrofitted into the ground (or ceiling) of the parking space and the recharge can happen without cords!! Better Place should be connecting w/these folks to help w/future infrastructure here.
tankd0g 9:51AM (8/23/2008)
We can't get a friggin maglev train built on this continent but we're going to have maglev roads now?
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macmanic 9:00PM (8/25/2008)
What if this transmitted power could be safely made available to vehicles while traveling on a road? You could cruse down I-95 charging while you drove and switching to local or battery only once off the grid. Bonus - tax this power to replace oil taxes.
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