Better Ways to Charge EV's?

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

I'm curious why EV's have evolved to require a hand-held attachment for charging. This made sense for gasoline, but it doesn't make sense for EV's IMHO.

It seems to me an under-vehicle automatic charging device would be much more convenient. You would plug it in and then lay it on the ground. You would simply drive your vehicle over the charging pad, stop the vehicle and then walk away. Perhaps it would take over steering for the last 5 feet so that the vehicle is perfectly aligned over the charing pad.

Then something from the vehicle would drop down to physically connect with the charging pad, or something from the charging pad would rise up and fit into a port on the belly of the vehicle. Electrons would be exchanged.

This would have so many advantages.

Primary among them, you wouldn't have to manually attach the charging cable and unattach it literally every time you drive. To me (sans EV) that sounds like having to filly my car with gas every time I park it in the drive way. What a hassle.

Presumably there's a whole host of reasons why this is a terrible idea, because it's so obvious it must have been considered and discarded. But what else might be a better way to charge EV's? Close-range inductive? Other?

I don't believe we'll be charging our EV's by hand for the next century. Someone will make this a lot more convenient at some point. Maybe Apple. When that time comes, I hope I can retrofit my Rivian.

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[Joints4Sale]

BMW was working on it. I'm not sure we're there yet.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a20956544/bmw-to-debut-inductive-charging-on-the-530e/

Having had EVs for a few years now, it's not that big a deal. Just form the habit and it becomes second nature. People often ask me how long it takes me to charge my car. The "fun" answer is..... 10 seconds. I park, plug in, and walk in my house, Done. 10 seconds.

 

[CommodoreAmiga]

Different ways of charging have been (and continue to be) explored.

Some notable examples are Teslas "robotic" charging arm:



And McLaren has wireless charging:

https://carbuzz.com/news/the-mclaren-speedtail-can-now-be-charged-wirelessly

But "better" is a complex and subjective assessment. The conventional "plug" has several advantages:

1. Inexpensive
2. Reliable
3. Simple

Maybe something truly "better" will come along... But for most situations and people, the "plug" is probably still currently "best".

 

[mkg3]

I'm curious why EV's have evolved to require a hand-held attachment for charging. This made sense for gasoline, but it doesn't make sense for EV's IMHO.

It seems to me an under-vehicle automatic charging device would be much more convenient. You would plug it in and then lay it on the ground. You would simply drive your vehicle over the charging pad, stop the vehicle and then walk away. Perhaps it would take over steering for the last 5 feet so that the vehicle is perfectly aligned over the charing pad.

Then something from the vehicle would drop down to physically connect with the charging pad, or something from the charging pad would rise up and fit into a port on the belly of the vehicle. Electrons would be exchanged.

This would have so many advantages.

Primary among them, you wouldn't have to manually attach the charging cable and unattach it literally every time you drive. To me (sans EV) that sounds like having to filly my car with gas every time I park it in the drive way. What a hassle.

Presumably there's a whole host of reasons why this is a terrible idea, because it's so obvious it must have been considered and discarded. But what else might be a better way to charge EV's? Close-range inductive? Other?

I don't believe we'll be charging our EV's by hand for the next century. Someone will make this a lot more convenient at some point. Maybe Apple. When that time comes, I hope I can retrofit my Rivian.

Did you have too much time on your hands today???

We use plug in charger because its simple and intuitive. Also it is low cost compared to other "wireless" and automated ways, I believe. Part of mass adoption is to bridge familiarity of existing with new (that's why automakers add fake grills or grill-like profile to EVs).

As for the next century, will we have EVs as we know it? Probably not. There's been lots of studies on guided roads and freeways and now with wireless charing while driving (autonomously)...

 

[Craigins]

I'm curious why EV's have evolved to require a hand-held attachment for charging. This made sense for gasoline, but it doesn't make sense for EV's IMHO.

It seems to me an under-vehicle automatic charging device would be much more convenient. You would plug it in and then lay it on the ground. You would simply drive your vehicle over the charging pad, stop the vehicle and then walk away. Perhaps it would take over steering for the last 5 feet so that the vehicle is perfectly aligned over the charing pad.

Then something from the vehicle would drop down to physically connect with the charging pad, or something from the charging pad would rise up and fit into a port on the belly of the vehicle. Electrons would be exchanged.

This would have so many advantages.

Primary among them, you wouldn't have to manually attach the charging cable and unattach it literally every time you drive. To me (sans EV) that sounds like having to filly my car with gas every time I park it in the drive way. What a hassle.

Presumably there's a whole host of reasons why this is a terrible idea, because it's so obvious it must have been considered and discarded. But what else might be a better way to charge EV's? Close-range inductive? Other?

I don't believe we'll be charging our EV's by hand for the next century. Someone will make this a lot more convenient at some point. Maybe Apple. When that time comes, I hope I can retrofit my Rivian.

As j4s pointed out, you need to do inductive charging for that. Think about all the issues if the door freezes, mud has caked it shut, etc.

Same with a port at the very front, minor fender bender and you lose the ability to charge.

Inductive charging is nice, if you can minimize the loss. You lose a lot of energy, and when you're trying to be "green", wasting energy isn't the best plan.

 

[E.S.]

IJS ... ?

 

[SANZC02]

I'm curious why EV's have evolved to require a hand-held attachment for charging. This made sense for gasoline, but it doesn't make sense for EV's IMHO.

It seems to me an under-vehicle automatic charging device would be much more convenient. You would plug it in and then lay it on the ground. You would simply drive your vehicle over the charging pad, stop the vehicle and then walk away. Perhaps it would take over steering for the last 5 feet so that the vehicle is perfectly aligned over the charing pad.

Then something from the vehicle would drop down to physically connect with the charging pad, or something from the charging pad would rise up and fit into a port on the belly of the vehicle. Electrons would be exchanged.

This would have so many advantages.

Primary among them, you wouldn't have to manually attach the charging cable and unattach it literally every time you drive. To me (sans EV) that sounds like having to filly my car with gas every time I park it in the drive way. What a hassle.

Presumably there's a whole host of reasons why this is a terrible idea, because it's so obvious it must have been considered and discarded. But what else might be a better way to charge EV's? Close-range inductive? Other?

I don't believe we'll be charging our EV's by hand for the next century. Someone will make this a lot more convenient at some point. Maybe Apple. When that time comes, I hope I can retrofit my Rivian.

There is a company offering this…
https://www.pluglesspower.com/

 

[Rivian_Hugh_III]

There is a company offering this…
https://www.pluglesspower.com/

Cool. They say it typically costs $3000-$4000 and can be used with any EV. They send a technician to work on your vehicle. It usually takes about 2 hours they say.

 

[Zach05855]

I Pace wireless charging

 

[Zach05855]

Detroit getting 1st public wireless EV-charging road system in the United States



https://www.hummerchat.com/threads/...arging-road-system-in-the-united-states.1099/

 

[electruck]

as mentioned, the tech is still work in progress.

here's another example:
https://www.wxyz.com/news/detroit-g...-ev-charging-road-system-in-the-united-states

 

[thrill]

... Inductive charging is nice, if you can minimize the loss. You lose a lot of energy, and when you're trying to be "green", wasting energy isn't the best plan.

120-kW Wireless Charging Proves 97% Efficient (insideevs.com)

 

[Craigins]

120-kW Wireless Charging Proves 97% Efficient (insideevs.com)

Sweet, i can use that to charge my solid state battery powered by a fusion power plant.

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