Dynamic Charging of Vehicles (DynaCov)
| Funding mechanism | Network Innovation Allowance (NIA) |
|---|---|
| Duration | Dec 2020 - Feb 2022 |
| Project expenditure | £475K |
| Research area | Transition to low carbon future, New technologies and commercial evolution |
Objective(s)
- Assess the electrical impact of DWPT technology on the distribution network
- Examine issues such as earthing and having multiple connection points
- Model DWPT on a selected case study within Coventry
- Review current DWPT technologies already available worldwide
- Deliver a set of Electrical values which can be adopted into WPD modeling as business as usual
- Report on the feasibility of DWPT in the UK
- Forecast DWPT uptake within the UK
- Evaluate the business case and feasibility for DWPT in the UK
Problem(s)
As outlined in the third problem statement in Western Power Distribution’s (WPD) Innovation Forward Plan 2019 (Electrification of Freight), whilst electrification of small passenger vehicles is becoming more established, battery technology is not yet sufficient to meet the economic and technical requirements of larger and heavier urban and freight vehicles (e.g. buses, delivery vehicles). Dynamic Charging of Vehicles (DynaCoV) project using dynamic wireless charging technology is a potential innovation to address this, however the effect on the electrical distribution network would be significant and is not currently understood.
Method(s)
Evaluation of the desktop research and data modelling, leading to the development of a roadmap indicating likely adoption rates and timescales for dynamic wireless charging in the UK. This Work Package will also look at the physical installation and safety of DWPT systems.
Work Package 5
Providing delivery details of the next phase and the complete feasibility report. This work package will see the results disseminated to industry stakeholders.
Success Criteria
· Assess the viability of DWPT rollout within WPD’s license areas, both electrically and physically
· Review of current DWPT or continuous charging systems available worldwide
· Development of model to accurately assess impact on the distribution network
· Delivery of a set of Electrical values for WPD to incorporate into in-house planning tools for BaU
· Dissemination of the results to other UK DNO’s and stakeholders
This feasibility study can be broken down into the following work packages and deliverables.
Work Package 1
Work package one will cover project management activities over the course of the project. This will include the production and execution of the data protection plan and communication plan, as well as day to day project management activities.
Work Package 2
Work Package two will look at researching the current technology available for Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) worldwide. It will include the review of learning and data collection, as well as the expected power requirements and an evaluation of the UK supply chain.
Work Package 3
This Work Package will carry out modelling of traffic flows and vehicle usage patterns to identify the extent of dynamic wireless charging required and assessment of the network impacts of dynamic wireless charging, which can be used by network planners to assess the network when a connection request for this system comes in. This may be delivered in the form of a load profile, with earthing and power quality assessments undertaken. The site will be selected for the case study and then the case study area will be modelled for network impact including load draw, power quality and earthing requirements and considerations. This work Package will then carry out the evaluation of the business case and then will proceed through the project gateway if proven viable.