Design of a double coupled IPT EV highway

Abstract

As global reserves of fossil fuels diminish, and the awareness of their harmful effects increases, Electric Vehicles (EVs) are fast becoming attractive alternatives to conventional petrol driven vehicles. Inductive power transfer (IPT) is a method that can transfer power to EVs over an air-gap without physical contact. If IPT systems are incorporated into highways, then EVs can be charged dynamically as they travel. This will dramatically increase the range, convenience and safety of EV charging and will significantly reduce range anxiety and the required battery bank sizes. A novel double coupled system, consisting of two stages of magnetic coupling, is proposed to drive the IPT highway. An AC-AC controller is used to control the current through buried Double-D (DD) inductive couplers to transfer power to a Double-D-Quadrature (DDQ) coupler mounted on the EV. A laboratory scale prototype of the proposed system is capable of transferring 500W over practical air-gaps to power multiple EV classes.