Interesting: Wireless Charging For Tesla Cybertrucks

wireless charging for tesla cybertrucks

Sunday, October 31, 2021 | Chimniii Desk

Key Highlights

Inductive wireless charging would enable the future Tesla Cybertruck to be charged quickly and conveniently without the use of charging wires.
A more expansive application of wireless charging would be on-road charging, which would involve installing inductive charge pads alongside roadways to allow Teslas to charge wirelessly while driving.
It's a technology that has the potential to significantly cut the cost of not only the Cybertruck, but also all other Tesla models and, by extension, all electric automobiles in general, as it would require a smaller battery and shift the cost to the charging infrastructure.
Another critical component of inductive charging methods that Tesla would need to consider is the health danger connected with radiation exposure.
As can be seen, there are numerous approaches to the technology and numerous implementation methods, and in my opinion, it would be an excellent feature to incorporate in the future Tesla Cybertruck, scheduled for release in 2023 (hopefully!).

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Inductive wireless charging would enable the future Tesla Cybertruck to be charged quickly and conveniently without the use of charging wires. It would be a significant feature, and the firm has almost certainly considered the advantages and disadvantages of adding it, even if there is no official statement or twit from Elon Musk indicating otherwise.

Essentially, the method utilises two electromagnetically connected coils that exchange energy at a high frequency. The primary coil is installed on the garage, driveway, or road surface and is connected to the power grid, while the secondary coil is installed on the vehicle and charges the battery. Wireless charging solutions for various electric vehicles are now commercially available.

A more expansive application of wireless charging would be on-road charging, which would involve installing inductive charge pads alongside roadways to allow Teslas to charge wirelessly while driving. It's a technology that has the potential to significantly cut the cost of not only the Cybertruck, but also all other Tesla models and, by extension, all electric automobiles in general, as it would require a smaller battery and shift the cost to the charging infrastructure.

The technique operates by transferring power from a stationary primary source to a moveable or stationary secondary source using an inductively coupled contactless power transfer system. The inductive charger is easy to use and suited for all weather situations, while the conductive charger offers several advantages. Because there is no direct electrical contact between the vehicle and the charger, no shock or electrical arc can occur.

Tesla might convert parking lots (or current charger – supercharger facilities) to charge EVs without the need for charging wires. These devices can be buried or flush-mounted, protecting them from vandalism and bad weather.

The primary disadvantages of this charger are the expensive initial investment cost and the increased losses when compared to conductive charging. My guess is that Tesla will ultimately figure it out if it is a feasible cost-effective implementation; the Cybertruck would become even more cutting-edge and desirable in this configuration.

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Another critical component of inductive charging methods that Tesla would need to consider is the health danger connected with radiation exposure. The leakage fields that permeate the space surrounding the charge-pad can have a detrimental effect on the health of any living organism that comes into contact with them. Additionally, it may result in the unintentional heating of nearby foreign items.

Various regulatory groups — ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection), IEEE, and others – have issued regulations for limiting exposure. There are three Z classes based on the air gap (distance) between the main and secondary coils: Z1 (100-150 mm), Z2 (140-210 mm), and Z3 (170-250 mm), as well as four power classes based on the SAE J2954 standard: 3.7, 7.7, 11, and 22 kW.

Various technologies for charging personal and public transportation vehicles have been developed over the previous decade. These prototypes transmit power ranging from 2 kW to 200 kW at frequencies between 40 and 100 kHz with an overall efficiency of 80 to 95 percent from AC mains to DC batteries. For production cars and public transportation vehicles, charging distances range from 50mm to 400mm.

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In the case of the Cybertruck, Tesla would need to guide the magnetic fields to minimise losses, which is necessary for these systems to be practical due to their proximity to the ferrous vehicle body. A third tendency is to integrate the vehicle's many powertrain components and controllers.

There are numerous examples of stationary inductive charging in practise, including wireless electric car charging systems based on buses (WEVC). These solutions have aided in the reduction of on-board battery weight and increased efficiency. Conductix-WEVC Wamplfler's is used in buses in Torino, Geneo, and s'Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands. At 60, 120, or 180 kW, efficiencies of more than 90% have been reported.

WAVE IPT, a Utah State University spin-off, has been developing 50 kW IPT systems that achieve greater than 90% efficiency. They intend to deploy IPT systems capable of charging at a rate of 250 kW. OLEV, a spin-off from the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), produced a third generation of wireless power transfer with an 83 percent efficiency at a 20-cm air gap in South Korea.

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As can be seen, there are numerous approaches to the technology and numerous implementation methods, and in my opinion, it would be an excellent feature to incorporate in the future Tesla Cybertruck, scheduled for release in 2023 (hopefully!). What are your thoughts? Kindly leave your thoughts in the section below.

Nico Caballero is the Vice President of Finance for Cogency Power, a solar energy company. He also possesses a Diploma in Electric Vehicles from the Netherlands' Delft University of Technology and enjoys conducting research on Tesla and EV batteries.

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