About us News service Jobs & Career Press bayern-innovativ.de
  1. Bayern Innovativ
  2. eMagazine
  3. # energy & construction
  4. Detail

Inductive charging in the test

University of Wuppertal tests inductive charging while driving - can also be retrofitted to existing vehicles

16.06.2025

Source: E & M powernews

Together with three partners from industry, the University of Wuppertal is testing wireless charging while driving and wants to make the technology retrofittable.

Reliable, easy to integrate into infrastructures and a real contribution to the transport revolution - these are the requirements that Professor Benedikt Schmülling, head of the "ERS.T-NRW" project at the University of Wuppertal, places on inductive charging while driving. Accordingly, the university now wants to develop a solution with partners from industry. He believes that local public transport, electric buses and cabs are particularly attractive areas of application for the technology. He also sees it as an important factor in advancing electromobility in the logistics sector.

The aim of the project is not only to make the technology usable for new vehicles, but also for existing e-cars, for example by retrofitting them. To this end, a communication platform is being developed that is compatible with many vehicle types and is based on international standards, according to a statement from the university.

A key element of the research work is the construction of a 400-metre-long test track in Aldenhoven near Düren in North Rhine-Westphalia. There, appropriately equipped vehicles will test wireless charging "under real-life conditions", according to the statement. The focus will be on the power transmission components, such as the coils and power electronics, as well as the communication system for data exchange between the vehicle and the charging infrastructure.

"The integration of modern communication technology enables intelligent control of the charging process, protects the vehicle battery and supports flexible and efficient use of the power grids through the exchange of energy data," says Schmülling.

Industry partners involved in the project, which will run for three years and is being funded with 786,000 euros as part of the "NeueWege.IN.NRW" innovation competition, include Electreon Germany GmbH (provider of wireless charging solutions), Denso Automotive Deutschland GmbH (provider of automotive technology) and the Strabag construction group.

Once the tests have been completed, the results will be submitted to standardization committees in order to contribute to uniform global standards for wireless charging.

Author: Fritz Wilhelm