Research and Demonstration of Key Technologies for Reliable and Efficient Application of New Energy Vehicles in China and Norway

Electrification of the transport sector is and have been key for reducing CO2-emissions. During the time frame of the project, This was mostly realised using lithium ion batteries and further directed towards the marine segment, automobile sector, as well as the bus sector. For smaller vehicles like personal cars, overnight charging constitutes the main source of charging, typically over 90%. Vehicles that are subject to use in the public transport sector face different challenges when it comes to charging since they rely on opportunity charging, or charging several times during the use periods. For long times and for buses in particular, this has been achieved dusing pantographs, an automated arm with two connectors reaching down to the roof of a bus from a fixed installation. This process has power limitations as well as time limitations, as the connections process is relatively slow. In the KeyTech-NeVe-ChiNo project, high power induction charging was researched in the lab, and tested as a real application for buses in a spin-off project by a bus operator. When power can be increased, as well as being much faster in starting to deliver power to the bus, then more energy can be provided to the vehicle. It is particularly the connection time, the time from when the bus is available to receive power until the power is actually received was lowered, providing longer charging time for the vehicle, e.g. on a bus stop while passengers disembark and board. As an example, if the charging time is doubled and the charging power is doubled, four times as much energy can be provided on the charging stop. In relation to this project, one achieved 100kW for buses at rest, and as low as 75 kW for buses in motion. The project focused further on understanding how the batteries of a vehicle responds to intense charging, as well as how this can be embedded in the life time prediction of the batteries. Several techniques were applied as such, and several scientific research papers were published accordingly. The project also researched the requirements for power electronics to support induction charging for further power increase. Also here several scientific research papers are published. The project was part of a bilateral collaboration with researchers and industry in China. Several meetings and knowledge exchanges took place, initially online (due to covid), but also training exchanges and phsical meetings both in China and Norway took place at the end off the project, once the situation allowed for it (considering vaccination programs).

The project delivered 22 peer reviewed research articles. Funding for 5 academic fellowships were also realised. The project progressed particularly within understanding of battery degradation mechanisms, predictive models for battery degradation, and understanding of how to increase induction charging by combining experiments and modelling. Due to global political developments, it became very challenging to exchange results between the Chinese and the Norwegian projects, as suggested in the proposal.

This project will contribute to the development and utilisation of technology for electrification of transportation systems with the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and local pollution. The Norwegian part of the project will include research activities within three main areas, including i) power system modelling, infrastructure planning and big data analysis for estimation of power requirements and load profiles for electric vehicle charging infrastructure. ii) Development of design methodologies and control strategies for wireless power transfer systems that can enable efficient and flexible opportunity charging at high power levels. iii) Evaluation of degradation mechanisms for batteries under cold climate conditions and parameter estimation for design of battery management systems. The Norwegian research activities will be closely coordinated with the planned activities of the Chines partners. Successful results from the project will also form the basis for joint initiatives for obtaining external funding or support for large-scale demonstration of technology to be developed by the Chinese industry partners. The applications will enable significant personnel mobility by exchange stays of young researchers. A total of 4 joint workshops will be organised during the project (2 each in China and Norway) to support the coordination and integration of joint research activities among the Chinese and Norwegian partners. PhD students and postdoctoral fellows are expected to make use of well facilitated opportunities for scientifically relevant exchanges for 3-6 months.