Plugless Power
 | |
|---|---|
| Product type | Electric Vehicle infrastructure |
| Owner | Evatran LLC |
| Country | United States |
| Introduced | 2011 |
| Markets | United States |
| Website | pluglesspower.com |
Plugless Power[1] is a family of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) products manufactured by Evatran, based on inductive charging. Plugless Power, a charging system for the electric vehicle (EV), connects the on-board EV battery charger inductively to the electrical power source, without physical connection. In simple terms, the two halves of the electric transformer are separated – one installed on the vehicle and one installed on the floor of a garage or in a parking lot. When the two pieces are brought together in close proximity, electrical current flowing in the station from the electrical grid causes current to flow into the vehicle adapter, charging the battery. The vehicle is charged by parking over the inductive equipment, eliminating the active step of plugging the vehicle in, or need for a plug at that location. Proponents say it offers a means of minimizing costly EV recharging infrastructures and providing industry standardization, increases user convenience and will promote EV adoption; opponents claim there is a minor loss of power in inductive transmission and suggest the convenience is an excessive luxury.[2]
The Plugless Power product is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2010, the same time frame as new EVs from Chevrolet, Nissan and others are expected to be available.[2] Resulting from Electric Vehicle technological advances and market growth, the application of inductive charging technology continues gaining notability and industry attention.[3][4][5]
History and development
| Type | Privately held company |
|---|---|
| Industry | Electric vehicle infrastructure |
| Founded | April 2009 |
| Founder(s) | Thomas Hough |
| Headquarters | Wytheville, Virginia, United States |
| Area served | United States |
| Key people |
Thomas Hough (Founder, Chairman) Rebecca Hough (Co-Founder, CEO) Brian Normann Kevin Beck |
| Products | Inductive charging system |
| Parent | MTC Transformers |
| Website | evatran.com/home |
| References: | |
Plugless Power dual-component EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment) is currently undergoing field testing and is expected to be available in the fourth quarter of 2010.[2][6]
Claimed to be the world’s first hands-free plugless, proximity charging system for electric vehicles, it is a clean technology product project of Evatran, formally begun in 2009. Most competing technological EV charging development appears to be focused on speed of charge rather than convenience and ease.[citation needed] Some industry people point to standardized inductive charging as a means of minimizing problematic infrastructure.[citation needed]
Manufacturer
Founded in 2009, Evatran was formed as a clean technology subsidiary of MTC Transformers, an award winning American manufacturer[7] of high-quality, precision-engineered transformers and rewind services based in Wytheville, Virginia. Evatran is utilizing over a century combined engineer's experience to innovate Electric Vehicle inductive charging with Plugless Power. The need for frequent charging of Electric Vehicles (EVs) and the means are a concern for inhibiting popular adoption of EVs that the inductive charger attempts to address, providing the infrastructure required to make electric vehicles widely viable. Evatran claims Plugless Power to be the world’s first hands-free, plugless, proximity charging system for electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids.[2]
Utilizing a dual-component system based on inductive technology, Evatran’s Plugless Power streamlines the charging of electric vehicles and extended-range hybrids by eliminating the physical connection and cable. The company claims a resultant automatic electric-vehicle charging system that is convenient, fast, safe, affordable, and potentially universal. Evatran’s customers are manufacturers, dealers, and drivers of electric or extended-range hybrid vehicles.[4] Other customers utilizing Plugless Power may include corporations, municipal governments, utilities, residential developers, new homebuilders, retailers, and small businesses.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ "Plugless Power website". 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Jim Motavalli (February 26, 2010). "Evatran Hoping To Cash In On Plug-Free Electric Cars". CBS Interactive Inc. (bnet.com). Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ↑ Bennett, Bo (September 1, 2009). "EVcast #267: There and Back Again...Eventually". evcast.com. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "New Subsidiary Formed to Charge Electric Vehicles". Virginia Business. August 31, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ↑ "Local company develops prototype to change face of electric cars". WVVA TV Bluefield Beckley WV. September 24, 2009. Retrieved 2009-09-19.
- ↑ Susan Wilson (March 1, 2010). "Evatran provides a plugless solution for EVs". Blorge.com. Retrieved 2010-03-09.
- ↑ "Profile". Inc.com. 2009. Retrieved 2010-03-09.