Building an Energy Internet as an alternative renewable power distribution system to the electrical grid using dynamic charging of eVehicles

1. Building an alternative renewable
power distribution system to the
electrical grid using dynamic
charging of eVehicles
Latest Update October 29, 2015
Bill.st.arnaud@gmail.com

2. Executive Summary
• Charging eVehicles as they move (dynamic Charging) significantly reduces size and
weight of batteries as vehicle only needs enough battery capacity to get to next
dynamic charging station a few kilometers away
• It also allows eVehicles to become an energy transport system in addition to
carrying people and goods
• eVehicle can be used to transport energy from small distributed solar panels in
rural or suburban areas to buildings (V2B) in cities or other areas as needed
• Technology already working for buses in various cities around the world and in use
on factory floors
• Transportation and Electrical Energy Generation are the two largest sources of
CO2 emissions. Dynamic charging can significantly mitigate against these sources
CO2

3. Current limitations of eVehicles (EV)
• High capital cost due to large cost of batteries
• High operating cost because batteries need to be replaced every 2-5 years
• Limited range, especially in cold weather when battery capacity is reduced
– Battery capacity reduced by up to 1/3 if air conditioning or cabin
heating is required
• Long time to re-charge between trips
– So a small number of short trips within a day can deplete batteries
– Inhibits spontaneity of taking a long trip because of uncertainty of
charge state
• Battery powered trucks and buses are more problematic in terms of range
and cost
3

4. Alternative to the battery
• Rather than waiting for perfect battery why not change the charging
system?
• Old world thinking that vehicles must be stationary to be refueled.
– This was true when using fossil fuels
• But with electric vehicles there is no reason why they cannot be charged
while on the move
• Dynamic (on the move) charging (aka opportunity charging)
– Only 1/5 of battery capacity required compared to regular eVehicle
4

5. Dynamic Charging
• The current vision for most eVehicles is stationary charging at home or at the
office
• With dynamic mobile charging, the eVehicle can be charged as it is travelling
along the highway using power from roadside solar panels and/or windmills
– Technology already in use for public bus transportation in various cities and on
factory/warehouse systems (opportunity charging)
• eVehicle can then be used to deliver this energy as a backup or primary power
source at the home or office, rather than consuming electricity at destination
– Also known as Vehicle to Building (V2B) Power distribution
– http://www.navigantresearch.com/research/vehicle-to-building-technologies
• eVehicle then would become a competitor to the electrical grid for delivering
renewable energy.

6. Advantages of dynamic charging
• Smaller number of batteries possible -reducing capital costs
• Frequent charging of batteries prevents battery depletion and longer life
• Reduces concerns of range anxiety
• Heavier eVehicles such as trucks and buses are realistically possible
• Vehicle can be charged enroute and then used as an alternate power
source for the home or business –vehicle to grid or vehicle to business
• Eventually concepts of “packet” based power are conceivable leading to
future “Energy Internet”
6

7. Vehicle To Building (V2B) Power
• In the coming decade, the energy stored
electric vehicle batteries will increasingly be
made available to commercial buildings
• Numerous pilot projects are now underway
around the world to develop and test V2B
technologies.
• The majority of these programs are part of
larger projects that are testing microgrid and
smart grid technologies.
– http://www.navigantresearch.com/research/v
ehicle-to-building-technologies

8. Dynamic Charging Technologies
• Wireless :
– Inductive charging uses the electromagnetic field to transfer energy
between two objects in close
– Magnetic resonance uses the magnetic coupling of two objects
exchanging energy through their varying or oscillating magnetic
fields.
• Conductive Requires physical contact
– Overhead Conductive uses overhead rails or wires as in tram and
trolley wires
– In Ground Conductive embedded rails as in subways or slot car
racing
– Capacitive Umbrellas uses overhead “electrical umbrellas”
8

9. Wireless vs Conductive
• Wireless
– Pros
• No wires or physical obstructions
– Cons
• Difficult to maintain in heavy traffic and inclement weather such as ice and snow
• Concerns about impact on embedded medical devices such as pace makers from
strong magnetic fields
• Risks of fire if small pieces of metal debris or on charging pad
• Very low efficiencies
• Still experimental
• Conductive
– Pros
• In operation in several cities around the world with public buses and trams
• Well proven technology
– Cons
• Unsightly wires and infrastructure
• High voltages and currents

10. Wireless Solutions

11. New IEEE pre-standardization for
dynamic wireless charging
• Power Transfer Industry Connections Activity.
• Motivation and goal: This IEEE Standards Association Industry
Connection Activity is related to pre--‐standardization efforts
in the domain of Electric Vehicle Wireless Power Transfer with
a particular focus on dynamic wireless charging as these
efforts address the range limitation of electric vehicles as well
as the cost aspect of the vehicle energy storage and
complement the current standardization activities of the SAE
J2954)

12. German prototype induction dynamic
charging
• http://www.gizmag.com/drawing-power-from-the-road/12874/

13. New Zealand HaloIPT Induction
Dynamic Charging
http://www.haloipt.com/
13

14. Peugeot EX1
• First all electric race car to use dynamic charging
• http://www.gizmag.com/dynamic-charging-for-electric-race-cars/19344/

15. The e-quickie
• Student project to build dynamic charged ebike
• http://www.gizmag.com/e-quickie-electric-vehicle-with-wireless-energy-
transmission/16346/

16. EU Funded Program
• Project addresses directly the technological feasibility, economic
viability and socio-environmental of dynamic on-road charging of
electric vehicles
• Advanced solutions, conceived to enable full integration in the
grid and road infrastructure within urban- and extra-urban
environments for a wide range of future electric vehicles, will be
implemented and tested.
• http://www.fabric-project.eu/

17. England Is Going to Test Roads That Actually
Charge Electric Cars
Trials, slated to begin later this year, will
involve installing charging systems
underneath mock roads designed to
replicate real highway conditions. In
these “dynamic charging” systems, coils
are buried beneath the asphalt of special
charging lanes, offering contactless
charging to vehicles fitted with charging
“receivers.”
Read more:
http://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovati
on/england-going-to-test-roads-that-
actually-charge-electric-cars-
180956336/#ES24P9XDe7Exzlyy.99

18. Korean On Line Electric Vehicle
• http://www.gizmag.com/kaist-olev-electric-vehicle/12557/

19. KAIST reveals proof of concept
dynamic charging in city park
• Batteries 1/5 the size required for normal eVehicle
• http://www.gizmag.com/kaist-proof-of-concept-olev-power-road/14454/

20. KAIST rolling out dynamic wireless
charging in buses in South Korea
• City of Gumi in South Korea, beginning
on 6 August, is providing its citizens
with OLEV public transportation
services. After the successful operation
of the two OLEV buses by the end of
this year, Gumi City plans to provide
ten more such buses by 2015.
– http://www.greencarcongress.com/2013/0
8/kaist-20130808.html

21. Manhole cover charging in NYC
• HEVO Power, which is conducting a
manhole pilot with New York University
• New York City-based HEVO is focusing on
company vehicle fleets as its first market.
• Wireless charging for fleet vehicles makes
financial sense for corporations
• Wireless charging solves issues of the safety
hazard of long cords lying around,
vandalism, damaged connectors from
incorrect use and dead vehicles because
drivers forgot to plug them in
– http://www.eenews.net/stories/1059989839

22. Brabant NL to deploy world’s first
dynamic mobile charging
• Starting in mid -2013 the demonstration project will use inductive
charging to charge vehicles as they drive a special lane in the highway.
– http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBTx87xiscs
– http://www.wired.com/autopia/2012/10/glowing-roads/

23. Conductive Solutions

24. Shanghai Capabus – Capacitive Dynamic
Charging
China is experimenting with a
new form of electric bus, known
as Capabus, which runs without
continuous overhead lines (is an
autonomous vehicle) by using
power stored in large
onboard electric double-layer
capacitors (EDLCs), which are
quickly recharged whenever the
vehicle stops at any bus
stop (under so-called electric
umbrellas), and fully charged in
the terminus.
24
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capa_vehicle

25. Opbrid Fast Charging
• Opbrid Introduces New Overhead Fast-Charging System for Buses;
Leveraging Lithium Titanate (nLTO) Battery Technology for Rapid Charge
Hybrids
– http://www.greencarcongress.com/2010/10/opbrid-20101006.html

26. Flash Charging of Buses
• 15 second charging of
bus at each stop
• http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/93
15e568e4c6a1f8c1257b7400302fcd.aspx

27. Volvo’s electric i-road
• Volvo research into a future where
trucks and buses continuously are
supplied with electric power without
carrying large batteries. Instead,
power lines are built into the surface
of the road. This could be a future
solution for long-distance trucks and
buses running on electricity.
– http://news.volvogroup.com/2013/05/23
/the-road-of-tomorrow-is-electric/

28. Sweden Elways
http://elways.se/elways-solution/?lang=en
Conductive solution

29. Siemens dynamic charging for trucks
29
http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-
13746_7-57430211-48/siemens-
electrifies-trucks-with-trolley-
technology/

30. Overhead Charging Umbrellas for cars
• Overhead charging umbrellas situated
every few kilometers
• Charging umbrellas can also be located at
drive through restaurants, banks, etc.
– https://lmco.brightidea.com/ct/ct_a_view_idea
.bix?c=DDB6E8A8-81B8-4F5E-8B70-
FCB95B8821EA&idea_id=20EDD0CA-0550-
4C4A-A40C-89FE35C2F7BA
• Excellent YouTube video:
– http://goo.gl/7ecGq

31. Future Directions for Dynamic
Charging

32. Next generation dynamic charging
3220 – 100 meters
Surplus power to
Grid for feed in
tariff
Inverter
Ultra-capacitor
Charging rail
eVehicle with charging skeg
More details: elways.se
Roadside solar panel array

33. How does it work
• Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels charge ultra-capacitor connected to a charge rail
• When eVehicle approaches charge rail skeg underneath vehicle makes contact
with in ground charging rail
• Ultra-capacitor discharges onto onboard ultra-capacitor in eVehicle through
charging skeg located underneath vehicle
• Onboard ultra-capacitor slowly discharges to vehicle motor and batteries
– Potential demonstrated with Shanghai buses at Washington U
• When solar panel or windmill is not charging vehicles it can be used to feed power
into grid
– FIT programs will pay up to 80.5 cents/kwh
– Annual payback of 6-10%
33

34. Rough Calculations
• Electric car consumes 200-400 whr/km
• Assume only one electric car on highway every hour
– Reasonable assumption given number of eVehicles on road today
• Therefore only need 4-5 panel 150W panel array every kilometer
– Allowing for panel and capacitor inefficiencies
• As number and frequency of vehicles increases, size of and frequency
arrays will need to be increased
– 4 lane divided highway has approximately 3000 cars/hr maximum capacity
– Maximum power draw per km would be 200-400 whr/km x 3000 cars = .6 -1.2 Mw/km
– Approximately 10,000 panels required per km at peak traffic load

35. Case Study Golf Cart
For proposed Crowdsource funding
• Application:
– Golf courses, retirement community vehicles, university campus service fleet, emergency V2B backup for
critical systems such as network and computing equipment
• Assume :
– Golf course with dynamic charge rail at each hole and course distance 10km (including distance between
holes) or average .5km hole
– Typical golf cart consumption 200 wh/km. Therefore need to charge golf cart 100 wh to get to next hole
– 2 Golf carts arriving at a given hole every 7-8 minutes –9 arrivals per hour
• Solar capacity:
– 2 x 100 wh x 9 arrivals/hr = 1.8 kwh
– Assuming 150w panels = 12-15 panels average per hole
• Skeg power capacity:
– Assume golf cart stays on charging rail for one minute= 6000 watt-minutes power transfer
– Approx 6000 volts @1A or 250V @ 20A or 600V @ 10A for 60v @ 100A or 48V @125A
– Note that streetcar and subways usually operate at 600V @ 200 A & Elways claims 250 Kw power
– 48V design would eliminate need for DC/DC converters (but would not be useful for cars or trucks)
• Ultra capacitor size:
– Maxwell BCAP 3000 3wh => 33 caps required

36. System Diagram for Golf Cart System
Solar PV
array
Inverter
Regulator
Charger
DC/DC
Converter
Ultra
Capacitor
Battery
Bank
Charge Rail
600V
600V
.1 KW
48V
1.5 KW
600V
.1KW
Ske
g
Battery
Bank
Motor
48V
Ultra
Capacitor
100wH
500wH
DC/DC
Converter
Solenoid
Rail
Activation
Switch
Rail De-
Activation
Switch
To grid
~
GolfCart

37. Golf Cart System Design Notes
• Golf Cart electrical systems are very simple typically with 48V circuits
– http://s985.photobucket.com/user/wizards1/media/DIAGRAMS/1980marathonwiringdiagram.png.html
• 600V design chosen for charge rail as this is the most common voltage for streetcars, subways,
etc. But based on design of charge rail and skeg other voltages and power ratings may make
more sense to reduce arcing and/or welding
• DC/DC converter pulse power requirements is .5KW over 1 minute duration assuming voltage rail
is 600 V
– DC/DC converters should be bi-directional to enable future V2B and power routing applications
• Assumption that golf cart stays in contact with rail for 1 minute. May be possible to use higher
currents and voltages or longer rails
– E.g. Elways has tested their rail at 250KW continuous
• Solar array charging system has 5x capacity of individual golf cart to enable charging of several
carts in rapid succession
• Only one golf cart allowed per charge rail segment. Charge rail may be made up many segments
to allow several carts to be charged at once
• For rail and skeg design see www.elways.se

38. Why not use power from grid for
dynamic charging?
• Within 3- 4 years it is expected electricity from solar panels will be cheaper than from grid
– http://mobile.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/business/energy-environment/solar-and-wind-
energy-start-to-win-on-price-vs-conventional-fuels.html?referrer=&_r=0
• Most grid systems have large percentage of coal power
– CO2 savings are marginal
– Scant CO2 Benefit from China’s Coal-Powered Electric Cars
– http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/2011/10/scant-co2-benefit-from-chinas-
coal.html
• Grid interconnection fees, transformers, debt retirement charges, etc significantly drive up
costs
– However in some locations using solar panel to feed power to grid may allow for
additional revenue
• Grid and utility power reliability is declining with increased severe weather due to climate
change
38

39. Future vulnerability of grid
why we need an alternative for distribution of local renewable power
• “US Energy sector vulnerabilities to
climate change and extreme weather” US
Department of Energy July 2013
– http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/20
13/07/f2/20130716-
Energy%20Sector%20Vulnerabilities%
20Report.pdf
39
Recent Sample outages
• Coal and nuclear power generating
capacity will decrease by between 4
and 16 percent in the United States
and a 6 to 19 percent decline in
Europe due to lack of cooling water.
• http://www.reuters.com/articl
e/2012/06/04/climate-water-
energy-
idUSL3E8H41SO20120604

40. Why not use fixed static charging
stations?
• Static or fixed charging assumes infrequent charges with deep charging
cycles and large battery capacity versus dynamic charging assumes
frequent charges with small charging cycles and smaller battery capacity
• Current systems may require several hours to provide full charge
• Fixed charging stations are difficult to find and get blocked by current
charging vehicle
– Limited capability to charge multiple vehicles at the same time
because of long charging cycle
• Fixed charging stations require driver to get out of vehicle and connect
charging cable
40

41. Past concerns about using Solar Panels
for Charging EV
• Previous attempts to use solar panels for static charging of
eVehicles have not been very successful
– Very large solar arrays are required because need to recharge depleted
battery bank
– Doesn’t work at night time or on cloud days
– Design premised that each vehicle requires long deep charge cycle
• With dynamic charging only have to provide enough power to get
to next charging station
– Don’t need to design to recharge depleted batteries
– Solar panel capacity per charge therefore considerably less
• Dynamic charging also means smaller battery capacity required
which reduces vehicle weight and improves performance and cost
– Up to 1/5 battery capacity required with dynamic charging

42. Initial target markets
• Drive through banks, fast food restaurants, parking garages, universities,
golf courses, etc
– “Will that be fries with your free electrical charge?”
– Complete package of PV system on roof connected to ultra-capacitor
and charge rail
– When PV is not charging vehicles it can be making money from feed in
tariff
– Guaranteed 6-10% return even if not a single vehicle charged
• V2B for maintain critical systems at universities and businesses such as
computing and network equipment, alarm systems, etc
• Eventually deployed at toll plazas, on/off ramps, stop lights and
intersections
42

43. eVehicle energy storage and micro
grids for university
43
UCSD 2nd life battery program
University Delaware use of eVehicles for power

44. Suburban sprawl may be answer to
global warming
• Suburban lifestyle with distributed solar panels on
every house with dynamic charging of vehicles driving
by the house
• Rather than charging vehicles at home and driving to
work or shopping, vehicle is charged on the way to and
from work or shopping
• eVehicle can then be used for supplementary power
during the day at work, or during the night at home
– http://www.navigantresearch.com/research/vehicle-to-
building-technologies
• Suburban sprawl to power cities of the future
– http://www.lincoln.ac.uk/news/2013/07/745.asp
• How suburban sprawl paradoxically could be the
answer to global warming
– http://goo.gl/bXO6x

45. Research Initiatives-Energy Internet
• With Energy Internet it is assumed that many energy consuming devices power have
their own local power source e.g:
– WiFi spot with its own solar panel
– Backup battery power on computer
– Electric vehicle with its own battery bank
• Many possible virtual and real power circuits: Software Defined Power Networks
– PoE, USB, Traditional 110/220, 48V Dc,Pulse power over Cat 5
– Power routing across devices following path of virtual power circuit
• Ideal for existing intelligent networked devices like computers, switches, routers,
servers, Wifi hot spots , electric vehicle charging stations, etc
– Most of these devices have their own on board storage and so techniques such as round-robin
power distribution are possible
• Network engineers & researchers have to start thinking how to deploy networks that are
powered solely by solar power
– http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/rob-commentary/rob-insight/an-earth-
day-look-at-the-sunny-state-of-solar/article18101176/#dashboard/follows/ …
45

46. The Future – “Energy Internet”
• eVehicle becomes more than a human transportation system
– it also becomes an energy transport system to transfer
renewable energy between dynamic charging stations
– E.g. power from under utilized charging stations can be delivered
by eVehicle to charging stations that are heavily used
– Or power can be brought to the home to provide backup power to
the home
• Dynamic charging station becomes energy packet
router/switch!
• Rather than eVehicle coming home with depleted batteries,
instead it comes home fully charged in order to provide power
to the home
• eVehicle becomes competitive alternative to the electrical grid
• http://Green-broadband.blogspot.com
46

47. “Packetized Power” with autonomous
eVehicles
• Autonomous eVehicles could be used to capture renewable
power from solar panels along highways to deliver to remote
sites
• Alternative back up power source instead of diesel generators
• Autonomous vehicles could store and forward power to other
vehicles at packet power routing points
• Where practical can be also used to carry passengers – next
generation ZipCar

48. More on Energy Internet
• How suburban sprawl paradoxically could be the answer to global warming
http://goo.gl/bXO6x
• Green Investment Opportunity for small business - on the move electric car charging
http://goo.gl/c44Tv
• Dynamic Charging and Why Energy needs to be Free to reduce CO2
http://goo.gl/LQQum
• Packet Based Energy Delivery Systems
http://goo.gl/pZEdE
• Electric roads and Internet will allow coast to coast driving with no stopping and no
emissions
http://goo.gl/lMmLy

49. Let’s Keep The Conversation Going
E-mail
Bl
og
s
http://green-broadband.blogspot.com
Twitt
erhttp://twitter.com/BillStArnaud
Bill.St.Arnaud@gmail.com
Bill St. Arnaud is a R&E Network and Green IT
consultant who works with clients on a variety
of subjects such as the next generation
research and education and Internet networks.
He also works with clients to develop practical
solutions to reduce GHG emissions such as
free broadband and electrical highways (See
http://green-broadband.blogspot.com/) .

50. E1-Assist Concept
• EV charging system that makes use of existing technology
• System comes as a trailer-like unit hauled by a truck. Private electric cars
can simply merge with the truck and accomplish any energy needs on the
go.
• http://www.environmentteam.com/concept/category/futuristic-vehicles/

51. Hybrid Transport System
• Similar concept for capacitive charging proposed in French patent
• Interesting concept of alternating polarity on single rail
– http://www.hybrid-engine-hope.com/hybrid_transport_system

52. Arizona Dynamic Charging Solar Train
• Proposed solar train between Phoenix and Tuscon
• Solar panels will power train and provide surplus power to the grid
– http://www.solarbullet.org/

53. SAE standards for wireless charging
• SAE has launched a taskforce (SAE J2954) on the “Wireless Charging of
Electric and Plug-in Electric Vehicles”—i.e. EVs and PHEVs.
• The taskforce goal is to establish performance and safety limits for
wireless power transfer for automotive applications while establishing a
minimum interoperability requirement.
• The scope of the work covers light duty passenger EVs and PHEVs and
buses. Charging locations to be considered include residential; on-road
(static and dynamic)

54. Things that need to be researched
• Design of charging whip and charging rail to ensure good contact at
reasonable high speed
• How much current, and how fast, can one ultra-capacitor discharge to
another capacitor?
• Length of charging rail and time need to charge?
• Communications system and signaling between eVehicle and dynamic
charging station
• How to handle multiple eVehicles going through charging system at the
same time?
54