Momentum Dynamics Charges Chevrolet Volt -- Wirelessly
December 12 2012 - 11:21AM
Marketwired
MALVERN, PA--(Marketwire -
December 12, 2012) - Momentum Dynamics Corporation
(MD) announced today that it has successfully charged the General
Motors (NYSE: GM) Chevrolet Volt with its innovative wireless
charging technology at the full power capacity of the
vehicle. This is a significant technical accomplishment, due
to the complexity of the Volt, and a major milestone in the
development of wireless charging as a crucial enabler for the
widespread acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs).
The Momentum Dynamics wireless charger delivers more than 20,000
watts of power from the electrical grid to the electric vehicle,
far more than can be provided by conventional Level 2 (240 volts)
plug-in chargers, which are typically restricted to 3,300 watts
maximum. Higher power potentially allows greatly reduced
vehicle charging times. The technology uses a simple receiving
pad installed on the underside of a vehicle, and a transmitting pad
placed on, or embedded into the road surface.
"Momentum Dynamics has surprised many people in the industry by
the amount of power that can be safely delivered without the use of
cables, and by its low cost relative to plug-in chargers," said
company CEO and co-inventor Andy Daga.
Daga said he believes that Momentum's technology will spur EV
adoption, because future owners of electric and hybrid-electric
vehicles will demand the safety and all-weather automatic operation
of wireless charging at an affordable cost. By contrast to
plug-in chargers, wireless systems operate in all weather
conditions, are immune to vandalism, and operate automatically.
"We do for EV charging what systems like E-ZPass® have done for
automated toll collection -- except in this case it's about more
than reducing toll gate congestion -- we are actually enabling the
growth of an international industry," said Daga.
Daga said the industry is rapidly moving toward a new generation
of increasingly capable EVs and Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
(PHEV), as was most recently demonstrated with the introduction of
many new electric models at the 2012 L.A. Auto Show. "The EV
industry is finding its legs, and what is needed now is some
old-fashioned American ingenuity to allow this industry to really
expand," he said.
Daga further explained that the primary emphasis of his company
has been high-power wireless charging for the demanding commercial
EV market. Charging the Volt represents a scaling back of
Momentum's technology to the more modest power requirements of
passenger EVs.
"This was a bit of a diversion for us, but we proved to the
industry that wireless charging can be rather easily integrated
into current production EVs. Nevertheless, our mission remains
focused on the larger commercial vehicles where the economics of
reducing fuel costs for fleet operators by more than 85% are clear
and compelling," said Daga.
The company has completed stringent testing on the transmitter
and receiver configurations in its lab outside of Philadelphia, PA,
proving its system safe and reliable. Several planned field trials
with the participation of key strategic partners are scheduled to
begin in early 2013. According to Daga, the company expects to be
providing wireless charging rates in excess of 60,000 watts (60 kW)
to targeted advanced commercial electric vehicles in the coming
year.
About Momentum Dynamics
Corporation:Momentum Dynamics is a wireless power electronics
company committed to developing the technology and the business
structures for wireless charging for the transportation and
industrial markets. The company was formed in 2009 and has
specialized in high-power wireless charging using resonant magnetic
induction to transfer tens of thousands of watts of power without a
direct conductive connection.
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For additional information contact:Ali Cleveland
610-322-1964ali.cleveland@momentumdynamics.comScott Carroll
484-645-1454scott.carroll@momentumdynamics.com
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