Momentum Dynamics Corporation (MD) announced last week that it has successfully charged the Chevrolet Volt with its wireless charging technology at the full power capacity of the vehicle.

This is a considered by MD as a significant technical accomplishment, due to the complexity of the Volt, and a major milestone in the development of wireless charging as a crucial enabler for the widespread acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs).

The Momentum Dynamics wireless charger delivers more than 20,000 watts of power from the electrical grid to the electric vehicle, far more than can be provided by conventional Level 2 (240 volts) plug-in chargers, which are typically restricted to 3,300 watts maximum.

This higher power potentially allows greatly reduced vehicle charging times. The technology used by MD uses a simple receiving pad installed on the underside of a vehicle, and a transmitting pad placed on, or embedded into the road surface.

“Momentum Dynamics has surprised many people in the industry by the amount of power that can be safely delivered without the use of cables, and by its low cost relative to plug-in chargers,” said company CEO and co-inventor Andy Daga.

Daga also said he believes that Momentum’s technology will spur EV adoption, because future owners of electric and hybrid-electric vehicles will demand the safety and all-weather automatic operation of wireless charging at an affordable cost.

By contrast to plug-in chargers, wireless systems operate in all weather conditions. MD says they are immune to vandalism, and operate automatically.

“We do for EV charging what systems like E-ZPass have done for automated toll collection — except in this case it’s about more than reducing toll gate congestion — we are actually enabling the growth of an international industry,” said Daga.

Daga further explained that the primary emphasis of his company has been high-power wireless charging for the demanding commercial EV market. For MD, charging the Volt represents a scaling back of Momentum’s technology to the more modest power requirements of passenger EVs.

“This was a bit of a diversion for us, but we proved to the industry that wireless charging can be rather easily integrated into current production EVs. Nevertheless, our mission remains focused on the larger commercial vehicles where the economics of reducing fuel costs for fleet operators by more than 85 percent are clear and compelling,” said Daga.

The company says it has completed stringent testing on the transmitter and receiver configurations in its lab outside of Philadelphia, Pa., proving its system safe and reliable.

Several planned field trials with the participation of key strategic partners are scheduled to begin in early 2013.

According to Daga, the company expects to be providing wireless charging rates in excess of 60,000 watts (60 kw) to targeted advanced commercial electric vehicles in the coming year.

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The program, launched by local startup company Evatran, has installed six prototype wireless charging systems with participants such as Google, Duke Energy, and The Hertz Corporation.

The City of Raleigh is the first municipality nationwide to join the seven other participants in the second phase of the program, which kicks off early next year.

The City of Raleigh, along with the other Apollo partners, will use Plugless Power wireless charging systems on its own fleet of electric vehicles. These second generation systems, improved following the feedback from the first phase of the program, are production-intent and will be available to individual electric vehicle owners as soon as next April.

“We are excited to be the first municipality to participate in this program,” Mayor Nancy McFarlane said. “This is another example of how Raleigh continues to lead the nation in sustainability issues.”

With offices in the Research Triangle Park area, Evatran has been developing the wireless charging technology for high-power applications over the last three years.

The City of Raleigh’s commitment to the Apollo Program represents the first wireless charging stations installed in the local area. The installations, at three parking spots in municipal lots around the Raleigh, will allow a Chevy Volt and two Nissan Leaf vehicles to pull up and charge without the effort of plugging into the unit.

“This is an exciting announcement for Evatran,” said Rebecca Hough, chief executive officer and co-founder of Evatran. “We’ve been looking forward to getting this technology into the field and there’s something to be said for our local municipality stepping up to be first. The Raleigh-Durham area is one of the most electric vehicle-friendly areas in the country, and with the city’s participation in the Apollo Program, it will now be a leader in the adoption of advanced electric vehicle charging technologies.”

Evatran said the City of Raleigh will have systems installed at the Avery C. Upchurch Government Complex and the City’s Transit Operations Center. Both locations will provide charging for City-owned vehicles.

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