The Future of Energy-Efficient Charging

When it comes to IT trends, they seem to be chasing me instead of the other way round. Although I did have a love affair with the mobile phones back in the day when they first came into the picture, before they were called smartphones.

I needed to have the latest model that came out on the market or whatever Keanu Reeves was using in The Matrix.

Who could forget Nokia’s inimitable ‘banana’ phone? I had almost all the Nokia models, an odd Motorola and Panasonic one here and there.

One of my first ‘cool’ mobile phones was a gold-coloured Samsung flip phone with a keypad and an antenna (that is very difficult for the young ones to imagine now). It was small and stylish then—I liked the flipping action mostly. And I enjoyed talking on it more because of the way it looked when I was holding it to my ear.

But not so much the ‘burned ear’ I would get from the phone heating up oh-so-quickly. I also made the mistake of charging it while on a call—the right side of my brain felt rightly ‘fried’ afterwards.

How times have changed since!

Gone are the ‘brain-frying’ times—or at least much less—and cumbersome cable charging.

The science of charging humans’ indispensable companion has changed exponentially, following the lightning speed of technological development, and our demand for faster, easier ‘juicing up’ of everyone’s precious device.

But do you know how much energy your smartphone consumes daily? And more importantly, in today’s resource-constrained times, what’s the most energy-efficient way to keep it powered?

Let’s delve deeper into the advancements that are making wireless charging more energy efficient.

Embracing Energy-Efficient Charging

With the surge in electronic device usage, energy efficiency in charging has become paramount. Traditional chargers often lead to energy wastage, prompting a shift towards more sustainable solutions.

Recent innovations in wireless charging technology are addressing these concerns head-on. One notable advancement is the development of resonant inductive coupling systems. These systems utilise high Q-factor resonators that exchange energy at a much higher rate than they lose energy due to internal damping. This means that power can be transferred efficiently over greater distances without significant energy loss, making wireless charging more practical and energy efficient for everyday use. 

Moreover, researchers at Incheon National University have introduced a resonant tuning rectifier (RTR) that enhances efficiency via dynamic frequency adaptation. This innovation allows wireless charging systems to maintain optimal power transfer even when there are frequency changes in the resonant circuits, which are necessary to reduce electromagnetic interference with other devices. By stabilising power delivery, the RTR ensures consistent and efficient charging performance.

These technological strides are not just theoretical. In practical applications, such as electric vehicles (EVs), wireless charging systems have demonstrated impressive efficiency.

For instance, a team at Oak Ridge National Laboratory wirelessly charged a Hyundai Kona EV at 100 kW with 96% efficiency using a lightweight 14-inch polyphase coil—currently the highest-power, highest-efficiency EV wireless-charging demo in the world. 

As these advancements continue to evolve, wireless charging is poised to become a more energy-efficient and convenient option for powering our devices, contributing to reducing our environmental footprint.