EU funds support the integration of FAU innovation in inductive energy transfer into Bavarian economy

The contactless transfer of electric energy from the road into parked or moving electric cars and trucks resolves significant concerns with electric mobility. Charging times and limits on range are eliminated, costs, weight and the use of resources due to large batteries are minimized. To accelerate the integration of inductive power transfer (IPT) technology that has been researched for more than 10 years at the Chair of Factory Automation and Production Systems (FAPS) under the leadership of Prof. Jörg Franke into application, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is providing funding of five million euros over a period of almost three years.

In the large-scale project called Power Electronic Systems for Electrified Roads (PES4E|ROAD) and in collaboration with the E|Road-Center of IISB in Hallstadt, FAPS will support Bavarian companies with developing added value measures, in particular for the coils that are installed in the road, for the power electronics in the vehicles and the control cabinet systems for connection to the electricity grid. 17 specialist technology providers have already indicated their specific interest in increasing development and manufacturing capacities for the project. The PES4|ERoad project is open to all companies in Bavaria.

“IPT enables electrical energy to be transferred to stationary or moving vehicles without cables, for example, in parking lots, bus stops, taxi ranks or directly in sections of road,” explains Prof. Florian Risch, head of the Drivetrain Research Sector at the FAPS Chair.

Developing skills in the Bavarian economy

The project comprises 12 particularly innovative sub-projects, designed to create a significant competitive advantage for Bavarian companies in the international market for electrified roads that is currently being established. Close collaboration between FAPS and the E|Road Center with companies that are interested will enable new product ideas, system architectures and manufacturing concepts to be developed, tested and transferred to real applications. The companies will gain access to current research findings, tested components and to application-oriented production and testing systems.

In addition to technical development, training and qualification of employees in companies plays a key role. Training and demonstration programs will ensure specialists are familiarized with the fundamentals of the IPT technology, relevant norms and typical design and manufacturing steps.

“With this project, we are creating the conditions for companies to develop their own products and services in the field of inductive charging systems and to launch them onto the market in a qualified way. At the same time, it contributes to anchoring the added value surrounding contactless energy transfer in the region and to strengthening the competitiveness of the Bavarian and European economy in the area of electric road infrastructure,” emphasizes the academic director of the FAPS Chair and PES4E|Road project head, Dr. Jochen Lorz.

Another project at FAPS is also performing research on inductive energy transfer:

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