Mahle said it had developed a positioning system which allows an electric vehicle to be precisely aligned above an inductive charging coil in the floor.
SAE International has now chosen that positioning system as the global standard for wireless charging, closing “the last gap in standardisation of inductive charging that has been unfilled for 10 years.
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The cross manufacturer product now paves the way for the comprehensive and rapid market launch of this attractive alternative to wired charging for batteries and electric and hybrid vehicles.
“This will be a strong impetus for e-mobility,” said Mahle chairman Arnd Franz.
The Differential Inductive Positioning System (DIPS) is based on a magnetic field and automatically establishes a connection with the controlled charging point as the electric vehicle approaches.
A special navigation system in the vehicle display aids the driver and the car is soon in the ideal position. The charging process begins automatically. This also works with an autonomous parking vehicle, where the parking system receives the necessary positioning instructions instead of the driver.
The system is also claimed to work in “unfavourable” environmental conditions such as snow cover or wet leaves on the bottom plate.
For wireless charging, all components relating to both the infrastructure and the vehicle side must be standardised. Only then can both the vehicle manufacturers and infrastructure providers bring products to market which ensure compatibility regardless of the manufacturer.
Mahle said it would make its technology accessible to the entire industry via a license model under FRAND (fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory) conditions.
Broad application of the system will also enable mobile applications in the future, such as charging via induction coils while driving. Mahle has also formulated the standard for this together with Electreon Wireless.
“Siemens and Witricity are two strong partners… with whom we are jointly advancing the complete system of charging infrastructure and automotive engineering,” said Harald Straky, head of corporate research and advanced engineering at the company.
