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Will future electric cars simplify and save weight by dropping the on-board charger?


Canada-based company Hillcrest Energy Technologies aims to replace the onboard EV charger with a more streamlined system.

Earlier this month, the company filed a patent application for a new bidirectional charging architecture based on a high-performance inverter, according to a press release from the company. This eliminates the need for a built-in charger, it claims.

Hillcrest Energy Technologies Universal Bidirectional Charging Architecture

Hillcrest Energy Technologies Universal Bidirectional Charging Architecture

As we’ve emphasized before — and often confused by consumers—when you buy a Level 2 “charger” You’re essentially buying a cable with some smart safety features built in. The conversion of electricity from alternating current to direct current takes place in the vehicle, in the car charger.

Instead, Hillcrest’s solution will put the vehicle’s inverter to use, reducing cost, complexity and weight, the company claims. Because it’s not uncommon for a built-in charger 12-14% loss of input powerThere may also be an efficiency benefit.

Charger Porsche Taycan

Charger Porsche Taycan

Hillcrest also claims their system will allow EVs that will have an 800-volt architecture for fast DC charging on a 400-volt charger without a booster.

However, this technology is still in its early stages. Hillcrest said it has just completed initial “proof-of-concept lab testing”, with further development work scheduled for later this year and validation testing with an unnamed partner. in 2023.

Volkswagen two-way charging test program

Volkswagen two-way charging test program

As a major car manufacturer like Volkswagen decide how to implement bidirectional charging, which can also be an inexpensive solution. It can also be more compact than the setup, such as in Ford F-150 Lightningwith integrated dual charger up to 19.2 kW.

This isn’t the only strategy to update the extra baggage of in-flight chargers. Texas Instruments is aiming greatly reduce their size. In 2020, the company once known for computers began marketing a new transistor that it claims can double the power density of its built-in charger, allowing components to be reduced by 50% in size.



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