As the world grapples with the urgent need to address climate change and reduce carbon emissions, one critical but often overlooked area is the electrification of light electric vehicles (LEVs – 2-wheelers – e-bikes, and e-scooters, e-mopeds). These vehicles, prevalent in many regions globally as a primary mode of transportation, contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution due to their reliance on gasoline. With more than 50 percent of gasoline consumed by two-wheelers and emissions accounting for 5 to 10 percent of CO2 emissions, the imperative to transition to electric alternatives is clear.
Drawing inspiration from successful government initiatives in the four-wheeled market, where regulations have propelled electric vehicle (EV) adoption, there is a growing recognition of the potential for similar policies to revolutionize the two-wheeler landscape. Notably, countries like China, with robust government support for electrification, have seen remarkable strides in EV adoption. In this context, exploring innovative solutions such as wireless charging for LEVs (e-bikes and e-scooters) emerges as a promising avenue to accelerate the shift towards cleaner, more sustainable mobility options.
Wireless charging offers a host of advantages that significantly enhance the user experience and sustainability of electric two-wheelers. Firstly, it eliminates the hassle of dealing with long cables, which not only reduces clutter but also minimizes the risk of damage. This convenience factor is further underscored by the seamless nature of wireless charging, allowing users to simply park their vehicles over designated charging pads/docking stations without the need for a manual ‘wired’ connection. Moreover, the absence of physical connectors reduces the likelihood of oxidation and corrosion, vandalisation, prolonging the lifespan of the charging infrastructure.
One of the standout features of wireless charging is its universal compatibility, enabling multiple types of vehicles to be charged using a single port, thereby streamlining infrastructure deployment and utilization. Additionally, the enclosed environment of wireless charging systems enhances safety by minimizing exposure to electrical components, making it a safer alternative to traditional wired charging methods.
However, most efforts in wirelessly charging EVs have been towards building charging infrastructure and technologies for electric passenger cars and larger commercial vehicles, even though the market share of e-bikes is increasing at a much faster rate, especially in developing countries and countries with high population densities. So how can we charge e-bikes and e-scooters wirelessly? Which advancements have been made/proposed in realizing Wireless Charging Systems (WCSs)?
At the heart of WCS lies a sophisticated architecture designed to efficiently convert AC power from the grid into smooth DC, then into high-frequency AC for wireless transmission, and back to DC for battery charging. These fundamental building blocks utilize various coupling techniques, including inductive, capacitive, resonant inductive, and magnetic gear wireless power transfer.
Inductive Wireless Power Transfer (IWPT) employs coupled coils to transfer power through magnetic field coupling. With primary and secondary coils strategically positioned, IWPT ensures efficient power transfer while minimizing misalignment issues. Recent research has focused on optimizing coil designs and control systems to maximize efficiency and reliability.
Capacitive Wireless Power Transfer (CWPT) utilizes coupling capacitors to transmit power through electric field coupling. This emerging technology offers simplicity and cost-effectiveness compared to IWPT, with a potential for efficient power transfer even over large air gaps.
Resonant Inductive Wireless Power Transfer (RIWPT) enhances traditional IWPT with resonance compensation circuits, increasing efficiency and power transfer capability. By tuning primary and secondary coils to a resonant frequency, RIWPT minimizes losses and maximizes efficiency.
Magnetic Gear Wireless Power Transfer (MGWPT) introduces a unique approach using synchronized permanent magnets to transfer power through mechanical torque. Though still in its infancy, MGWPT shows promise for efficient and reliable wireless charging.
These advancements pave the way for a diverse ecosystem of WCS infrastructure suitable for e-bikes and e-scooters. From compact inductive charging pads to sophisticated resonant systems, the future of e-bike and e-scooter charging is bright and wireless. With ongoing research and development, we can expect even greater efficiency, reliability, and convenience in wireless charging for e-bikes and e-scooters, driving forward the electrification of transportation and creating a cleaner, smarter future for all.
Wired and Wireless Technologies (WAWT), expects light-electric vehicles (LEVs) consisting of e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds, e-wheelchairs, as well as 3-wheelers, and personal utility vehicles (golf-carts) to be one of the fastest adopters of wireless charging technology. WAWT witnesses more and more wireless power solution providers globally developing wireless power solutions for such applications catering to more so for the infrastructure segment – docking stations wirelessly charging multiple LEVs at the same time.
About Wired and Wireless Technologies (WAWT)
Wired and Wireless Technologies (WAWT), through its comprehensive research data and insights and market intelligence on the wireless power market titled ‘Wireless Power Intelligence Service’, covers various types of wireless power technology solutions using different frequency levels – be it inductive, resonance, NFC, RF, or infrared-based. WAWT monitors the use of different types of wireless power solutions developed and adopted across 30+ different types of application markets across automotive, consumer, computing, wearables, hearables, medical/healthcare, smart home, industrial, robotics, retail, infrastructure, and other sectors.
WAWT has a dedicated coverage of the e-mobility sector covering EVs (passenger cars, light, and heavy commercial vehicles) as well as LEVs (e-bikes, e-scooters, e-mopeds), personal utility vehicles (e.g. golf carts), e-micro-mobility vehicles. Reach out to our subject matter experts (SMEs) by emailing analyst@wawt.tech and following our LinkedIn page (WAWT) for the latest market trends and updates on wireless power and allied technologies.