WiTricity has announced that the SAE International’s J2954 Taskforce has selected a circular coil topology for its official test station against which Electronic Vehicle (EV) wireless charging systems will be tested for interoperability and standards compliance. Products developed by car makers, Tier 1 suppliers and charging infrastructure suppliers will be measured against 3.7 kW and 7.7 kW test stations.
The agreement on key technical and procedural elements of the standard was reached at a meeting of the SAE J2954 Task Force members held in Ingolstadt, Germany in mid-January. The goal of the task force is to develop a standard that ensures interoperability between the wide range of electrified vehicles being developed by carmakers worldwide and the wireless charging stations that will be widely deployed to streamline the charging of the next generation of EVs and PHEVs.
Vehicle electrification is a priority for automakers, and providing drivers with the most convenient charging experience is critical to reaching mass adoption. Wireless charging has emerged as a preferred solution for electric vehicles and for the autonomous electric vehicles that are expected to be in the market in the coming years. The SAE J2954 Task Force is developing standards for wireless charging that enable automakers and their suppliers, as well those companies planning to build and operate wireless charging stations for public usage, to offer seamless interoperability on a global basis.
WiTricity's DRIVE series of EV reference designs include 3.7 kW, 7.7 kW and 11 kW, scaling to 22 kW and higher, and is based on the company’s patented magnetic resonance technology. These designs deliver superior end-to-end efficiency of 91%-94% and combine WiTricity's innovative TMN technology with its circular coil design.
WiTricity is working with major automakers and Tier 1 suppliers including Toyota, Delphi, TDK, IHI and BRUSA to bring the next-generation of wireless EV charging to a commercial reality. The company has also announced it is working with General Motors (GM) and Nissan in testing the DRIVE system.
