TKE participated in an innovative electric road project with Elways AB in Sweden to develop dynamic charging technology for electric vehicles
The future of transportation is electric road. TKE participated in an innovative electric road project that aims to transform the future of transportation through dynamic charging technology. The project, developed together with Elways AB in Sweden, focused on enabling electric vehicles to charge while driving using an electrical rail embedded in the road surface.
Dynamic charging technology for electric roads
Elways AB, based in Solna, Sweden, develops electric road technology that allows electric vehicles to charge while driving instead of stopping at stationary charging stations. This eliminates the present limitation of batteries and increases the range of electric vehicles. The solution helps overcome current battery limitations and significantly extends the driving range of electric vehicles.
By electrifying main roads with the Elways solution, electric vehicles will operate more efficiently than current vehicles, both petrol and electric, as they will neither need to stop for charging nor stop to refuel. Electrical roads also lower the carbon dioxide emissions.
New technology involving a movable power collector arm
A new technology developed by Elways is involving a movable power collector arm to a truck which will detect and lower the arm to the electric rail in the road and charge the battery by conductive electricity transfer.
TKE supported Elways with the project by developing the control system for rail detection and the control of the movable power collector arm. The control system consist of a mobile PLC and sensors which are controlled by CAN. TKE was responsible for implementing the combination of CANopen and J1939 protocols.
Nineteen approved patents
Elways has applied for twenty Swedish patents of which nineteen so far has resulted in approved patents. Furthermore, Elways also has seventeen PCT applications and thirty-nine non Swedish national applications of which twenty are approved. The patents and patent applications cover the system and the various solutions that are needed to achieve conductive feeding of vehicles while driving.
Approved and published patents are:
- Detection of rail
- Cleaning of the track
- The contact
- Movable arm beneath the vehicle
- Snow plough
- Design of the rail
200 m test road in Sweden
As a conclusion, a 200m road for testing purposes has been built in Arlanda. Test results have been good even in winter conditions. The project demonstrates how intelligent control systems, CAN communication, and electrified road infrastructure can help extend the driving range of electric vehicles while reducing charging stops and lowering carbon dioxide emissions.