Technology is a wonderful thing, when it works. It has brought us computers, the internet and social media to communicate on. We now have smart phones which allow us to find and book theatres and restaurants, view interactive maps, scan QR codes and pay bills via online banking. We are also able to send text messages as well as make phone calls.

Advancing technology has also brought us electric vehicles (EVs) to replace our petrol and diesel fuelled cars. These are at the beginning of their evolution to becoming our transport choice of the future. Batteries are improving, giving us longer ranges between visiting charge points and faster charge times.

There is no doubt EVs have their disadvantages, the main one is the perceived lack of availability of public fast chargers, the other being the time taken to charge the vehicle. But technology may well be about to change all that.

The alternative to public chargers is to charge your EV at home. It’s cheaper and less time consuming to charge your vehicle while you sleep. Until recently that was only practical for those able to park overnight in their garage, on their drive or on a private space, but that is no longer the case.

A UK manufacturer of EV charging equipment now offers a solution which involves installing an in-pavement channel with self-closing lid that allow EV owners to run a charging cable from a wall mounted charging point, through the pavement to their vehicle in a way that's safe for pedestrians. The channel is very slim and unobtrusive, blending into the surroundings and contouring with the pavement leaving it perfectly flush and preventing a trip hazard to passers by.

These systems are on trial with a number of UK local authorities and if successful, residents will be able to apply for a licence to have the channel installed outside their house by an approved supplier and contractor. The wall mounted charge point and pavement channel would cost in the region of £2,000, a sum which at present energy price levels could be recouped in around 18 months by allowing the use of a lower electricity tariff. There is also the added benefit of not needing to walk to and from a public charge point.

The next big thing in EV battery charging technology might seem at first to be more than a little science fiction but before you dismiss it, think back to your first mobile phone. It allowed you to send text messages and make phone calls between frequent charges. The phone most of us carry with us now, is in reality a mini computer with all its functions and apps,  which also lets us make phone calls. A big leap in technology which would have seemed very science fiction a few decades ago as we struggled with our Blackberrys and dial-up internet connection. On that basis, big leaps forward in EV charging technology might be credible technology fact rather than science fiction.

Think of the lithium-ion battery powered devices we are now able to charge wirelessly by simply placing the device on top of a charger. We recharge the battery in a modern mobile phone wirelessly, without giving much thought to it, so let’s scale things up a little. Isn’t a mobile phone’s lithium-ion battery just a miniature EV battery and if so, it should come as no surprise that technology exists to recharge your EV wirelessly.

 Wireless charging, or inductive charging, is a technology that allows devices to be charged without the need of physical contact. A wireless charging station, uses electromagnetic fields to transfer energy between the charging station and the EV's receiver. Without the need to plug the vehicle into the charging station there is no need to handle connecting cables which can be wet and awkward to use in wet and windy weather, reducing the risk of electric shock or damage caused by water or dust. As with all new technology, there are pros and cons with wireless charging stations, while they may be easier to use, particularly in adverse weather conditions, charging rates at present are slower than those using cables and the infrastructure is more expensive to provide, although that is changing with next generation technology.

Wireless charging possibilities do not end with cable free charging stations. There are ongoing tests being undertaken in Europe, the US and in the UK with a view to future rollout of wireless charging roads, as an alternative to stationary charging points. Copper inductive charging coils are installed under the road surface and these coils transfer electricity through a magnetic field to the EVs passing over them. This allows EVs equipped with receivers to charge up their batteries while they drive.

Wireless charging roads are not science fiction, they are a reality and are being trialled in a number of countries including here in the UK. Highways England and the Ministry of Transport have already carried out tests on various systems and plan trial installations as a next step, with a view to eventually installing EV charging lanes on some motorways and at strategic points such as bus stops and taxi ranks in urban areas. The expectation is that drivers would pay to use these stretches of road.

The major hurdle to be overcome in the provision of wireless charging roads is not the technology, which already exists and is evolving as a result of these trial installations. The main problem could be the cost of installation of the infrastructure. In the UK, millions of pounds is already being spent installing public charging points for EVs and the cost of installing miles of dedicated charging lanes could be prohibitive, which might mean government looking to private investment to fund this charging revolution.

Another new technology answer to help keep your EV’s powered is not to charge the battery, but to swap it. At the moment there is very little infrastructure to support battery swapping in Europe and some early pioneers in the field have fallen by the wayside. In China, automotive manufacturer NIO together with another five manufacturers plan to have upwards of 25,000 battery-swap stations installed in the country by 2025. NIO now has around 30 battery swap stations in Europe and has plans to offer its service in the UK in the near future. At the moment NIO’s battery swap stations can only facilitate a battery swap with one of the company’s own vehicles, but as battery technology progresses, this may change. With battery swap technology comes the option to lease a battery rather than buy it outright.

Like it or not, EVs are here to stay and will be the mode of transport for generations to come. The technology which drives these vehicles is very much in its infancy, particularly around their batteries and the range these offer. It should be no surprise then that battery charging technology, also in its early years, is going to evolve. Like the mobile phone before it, this technology may surprise many of us with its “science fiction” solutions, so be prepared for “life Jim but not as we know it” to quote the inscrutable Mr Spock.

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