INDIANAPOLIS – WAVE Charging has recently participated in developing and deploying a first-of-its-kind high-power, ultra-fast wireless charging system to power electric trucks.
In partnership with Venture Logistics, one of the nation’s largest privately held, full-service logistics companies, Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI), the US Department of Energy and Venture Logistics will use WAVE’s innovative 500kW wireless inductive charger to power two Class 8 electric trucks and move cargo at one of its Midwest facilities.
“Completely hands-free, cable-free charging solves many of the concerns around powering electric vehicles in high-traffic areas in the Midwest,” said Justin Weber with Venture Logistics. “Our project with WAVE Charging is a major step to reducing operations emissions and providing a healthier, safer work environment to workers and our neighbors.”
“Cummins is excited to be part of this pioneering project with WAVE Charging and Venture Logistics,” said John Kresse, Cummins Director – Hybrid and Electrification Technologies. “This collaboration highlights our commitment to advancing clean and efficient energy solutions. The implementation of this 500kW wireless charging system is a significant milestone towards a more sustainable future in heavy-duty transportation.”
In January of this year, WAVE Charging announced a successful series of tests demonstrating that the charging system could fully charge a class 8 electric truck in less than 15 minutes, heralding a future where fleet operators could realize near-continuous electric vehicle uptime.
The project with Venture Logistics is an example of how high-power wireless charging is bringing zero-emission capabilities to challenging transportation environments, eliminating the need to handle heavy high-power charging cables at low temperatures.
Supported by an $8.4 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, the WAVE Wireless 500kW charger is being deployed as part of a consortium project. The innovative high-power wireless charging systems will help operators meet zero-emission goals more easily with minimal impact on operations, thus helping to improve the air quality in and around ports, warehouses, and distribution centers.
“Our demonstration project with Venture Logistics will show that for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles which demand perpetual operations and require charging infrastructure, wireless charging is the most effective solution at scale,” said Macy Neshati, General Manager at WAVE.
Benefits:
- Embedded in the pavement, the WAVE Wireless system charges the truck batteries quickly and conveniently during regularly scheduled stops without the need to handle heavy high-power cables.
- The speed and convenience to which high-power charging is available means charging can occur within the vehicle’s demanding duty cycle, allowing the battery-electric trucks to match the duty cycle of their fossil-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts.
- The pavement embedded systems have no moving parts, which equates to low maintenance and high availability.
- Unlike legacy plug-in charging systems, the WAVE Wireless systems are flush to the ground, reducing the risk of collisions with vehicles in an already busy and congested area.
- The risks of trips and falls associated with cables are eliminated.
“We’re demonstrating that electric heavy-duty vehicles can operate continuously, recharging during their regular operations,” said Macy Neshati. “The advantages of this technology are evident: fleet operators enhance efficiency by eliminating vehicle downtime spent refueling or connecting to a central depot.”
Wireless charging is the ideal solution for any fleet operator with vehicles moving along a fixed route. In logistics, where minutes and seconds count, fully automated and unobtrusive high-power wireless charging keeps vehicles powered up during regularly scheduled stops across a variety of challenging weather conditions. Additionally, it allows for smaller batteries and fewer chargers, resulting in reduced vehicle weight and costs.
For more information on Venture Logistics, please visit venturelogistics.com/contact.
About Venture Logistics
Headquartered in Indianapolis, IN, Venture is one of the nation’s largest privately held, full-service logistics companies. Venture is comprised of complementary business units that offer over-the-road and dedicated truckload operations, freight brokerage, 3PL and supply chain optimization services. Venture also has a warehouse footprint of 1M sq. ft.
About WAVE Charging
Founded in 2011, with systems available from 125kW through to ultra-high power, WAVE delivers made-in-America wireless EV charging systems for the commercial fleet sector. With a global-leading number of high-power, rigorously proven inductive charging systems deployed, WAVE provides commercial fleet operators with a faster, easier, and future-proof way to extend the range of medium- and heavy-duty electric vehicles which avoid the hassle and inefficiency of operations experienced with cable and pantograph charging systems. Learn more at www.wavecharging.com.
