Wireless Charging of Electric Vehicles (Imperial College London and EDF Energy)

This 3 year PhD Studentship aims to propose and develop suitable wireless charging solutions for Electric Vehicles (EVs) in collaboration with EDF Energy who provide half the funding. The PhD student will develop a highly efficient, high power wireless charging prototype to meet the need for an affordable, convenient and potentially widely used charging solution. The student will collaborate with and spend time at the EDF research labs in Paris.
Widespread take-up of EVs is envisaged as an essential component in shifting from an oil-based economy. A number of EV models are already in production. Research and development labs at car manufacturers and universities are focussing increasingly on solving the technological limitations of EVs such as range. However, achieving efficient and high power charging solutions which are at the same time inexpensive, convenient and scalable for use by many is a serious challenge and even a potential “show-stopper” for the general acceptance of EVs. Wireless inductive charging solutions have received much recent interest and are beginning to hit the market, but, to date the products are all home garage or driveway based, sitting on top of the road surface, and are expensive. The student will investigate and design affordable solutions to be used in a much wider range of charging scenarios.
The topics include:
• A system level analysis to understand the effects of wireless charging on the electricity grid in terms of infrastructure, cost and reliability
• Consideration of suitable wireless charging scenarios taking into account EV usage models (e.g. home garage or driveway based charging, opportunistic charging whilst on-the-move, charging in public or work parking spaces, required power levels, facility for rapid charging)
• Methods of wireless powering (e.g. resonant or non-resonant inductive charging)
• Safe electromagnetic field levels for public exposure and the potential consequences for high power transfer
• The required technical and cost specifications (e.g. power transfer levels, efficiency, maximum range, maximum coil size and weight, coil misalignment, temperature)
• Global system level optimisation of the charging technology (e.g. optimal choice of frequency to maximise efficiency and to meet electromagnetic safety and interference requirements at the required power levels)
• Inductive coil design and optimisation taking into account material cost and longevity
• Design of novel high efficiency, high power (potentially at high frequencies) power electronics (e.g. class E power amplifier design, class E rectifier design) including appropriate power combining techniques and load tuning

The successful candidate will have a strong background in circuit design and simulation and be able to demonstrate good practical and experimental skills such as PCB layout and component placement. He or she will have done 3rd/4th year specialist courses / projects in at least one (and preferably all) of the following areas:
1) Power Electronics
2) Radio frequency/power amplifier design
3) Electromagnetics/transformers

Good written and oral communication skills are essential.

Prospective candidates may contact Dr. Paul Mitcheson ([Email Address Removed]) or Dr. David Yates ([Email Address Removed]) directly for further details.