A British firm has teamed with a racing outfit that specializes in “green” cars to develop a system that allows electric race cars to be recharged while they drive.
HaloIPT, which says it’s involved in “inductive power transfer,” or IPT, technology, formed a partnership with Drayson Racing Technologies. While only involving racing for now, what is learned on the track might eventually apply to what you drive and where you drive it.
Racing cars fitted with HaloIPT technology will pick up power wirelessly from transmitters buried under the surface of the road or racetrack, the firm says. The power is transferred directly to the vehicle’s electric battery, ensuring that the vehicle receives constant charging on the move. HaloIPT thinks it has an edge because it says its power transfer system works even when there isn’t a perfect alignment with the transmitter pads.
Recharging, of course, is the big bugaboo of electric cars. Most take several hours to get a full charge under optimal conditions — and you have to plug them in. General Motors recently invested in a small company that is working on a system that allows cars to recharge without having to plug them in in a garage. The company already produces such wireless rechargers for personal electronics.
HaloIPT and Drayson Racing say they will work together on the development of electric drivetrain packages and trackside-charging systems to replace the internal combustion engine and fuel pit stops.
“Dynamic wireless charging will be a real game-changer, enabling zero-emission electric vehicles to race over long periods without the need for heavy batteries,” says Paul Drayson, co-founder of Drayson Racing. “We’re looking forward to putting this technology through its paces as it charges electric race cars at speeds of up to 200 mph.”
