Arrr, me hearties! The fine folks o' Motor City be leadin' the charge, layin' the path fer electrified roads across the seven seas!
2023-12-12
Avast, ye landlubbers! Hear ye, Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson, spillin' the beans on the Motor City! They be settin' the course fer electric roads, mateys! No more need to plug in yer electric chariot, arrr!
In the 17th century pirate language, mateys, electric vehicles (EVs) be becomin' more popular and affordable, but they still face some challenges, such as limited range, battery size, and chargin' infrastructure. However, what if there was a way to charge yer EV while sailin' the high seas, without the need for pluggin' in or stoppin' at a station? That be the idea behind wireless chargin'.Wireless chargin' be a technology that allows electric vehicles (EVs) to receive power from coils embedded under the road surface, without the need for pluggin' in or stoppin' at chargin' stations. This could make EVs more convenient, efficient, and affordable for drivers, as well as reduce the environmental impact of transportation.
Wireless chargin' has been tested by several automakers and researchers around the world, but until now, no U.S. city had implemented it in a public roadway. That changed when Detroit, the birthplace of the auto industry, announced the installation of wireless chargin' coils along a quarter-mile stretch of 14th Street in the historic Corktown neighborhood.
The wireless chargin' system was developed by Electreon Wireless, an Israeli company that specializes in inductive chargin' technology. The system consists of copper coils that be buried under the asphalt and connected to a power source. When a vehicle equipped with a receiver passes over the coils, it creates a magnetic field that transfers electricity wirelessly to the vehicle's battery.
The project be a collaborative effort between the State of Michigan and MDOT, the City of Detroit, Michigan Central, Ford, Jacobs, Next Energy, DTE, and others. It be part of a five-year pilot program to test the feasibility and performance of wireless chargin' in real-world conditions and explore its potential applications for public transit, such as buses and shuttles.
Wireless chargin' could offer several benefits for EV drivers and communities at large. Some of the advantages be:
- Convenience: Wireless chargin' could eliminate the hassle of findin' and pluggin' into chargin' stations, savin' time and money for drivers. It could also enable continuous chargin' while sailin', extendin' the range and battery life of EVs.
- Cost: Wireless chargin' could reduce the need for large and expensive battery packs, lowerin' the manufacturin' and maintenance costs of EVs. It could also reduce the demand for chargin' infrastructure, savin' resources and space for cities and communities.
- Adoption: Wireless chargin' could make EVs more attractive and accessible for consumers, especially those who live in apartments or areas with limited chargin' options. It could also increase the market share and competitiveness of EVs, creatin' more jobs and innovation in the auto industry.
- Environment: Wireless chargin' could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution caused by transportation, improvin' the health and quality of life of people and the planet.
Wireless chargin' also faces some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed before it can become widely adopted. Some of the issues be:
- Efficiency: Wireless chargin' be not as efficient as wired chargin', meanin' that some energy be lost during the transfer. This could increase the electricity consumption and cost of EVs, as well as the carbon footprint of the power generation. The efficiency of wireless chargin' depends on several factors, such as the distance between the coils and the receiver, the speed and alignment of the vehicle, and the weather and road conditions.
- Compatibility: Wireless chargin' requires both the road and the vehicle to have compatible equipment, which could limit the availability and interoperability of the system. Not all EVs have receivers installed, and not all roads have coils embedded. This could create a chicken-and-egg problem, where the demand and supply of wireless chargin' be dependent on each other. To solve this, standards and regulations need to be developed and adopted by the industry and the government.
- Safety: Wireless chargin' involves high-voltage electricity and magnetic fields, which could pose some risks for humans and animals. To prevent this, the system needs to be designed and tested to ensure that it meets the safety and health standards and guidelines.
Wireless chargin' be an emerging and promisin' technology that could revolutionize the way we sail and power our vehicles. It could offer many benefits for convenience, cost, adoption, and environment, but it also faces some challenges and limitations that need to be overcome. Detroit be the first U.S. city to install wireless chargin' in a public roadway, but it be not the last. More cities and countries be expected to follow suit and join the electric road revolution.