“We are pleased that WAVE was selected from a very competitive field of candidates to receive this grant for the bus electrification project,” said Stan Albrecht, President of Utah State University (USU). “It is always a proud moment when university technology is recognized for its potential in the marketplace. WAVE is part of our USTAR program; this grant represents a significant milestone for USTAR efforts at Utah State University.”
Using wireless power transfer technology developed at Utah State University by the Energy Dynamics Laboratory, WAVE tackles the problem of heavy and expensive electric vehicle batteries by using inductive power to transfer electricity between vehicle and roadway.
“Battery limitations represent the largest roadblock to full-scale electric vehicle market adoption,” said Wesley Smith, WAVE CEO. “Solving limitations related to weight, cost, range, recharge speed and user behavior is the highest priority for the electric vehicle sector.”
Therefore, rather than electrifying an existing highway, WAVE’s solution for bus routes will electrify sections of roadway at specific intervals—where a bus loads and unloads passengers, and where it waits to begin its next route. The installation on the University of Utah campus will demonstrate the viability of large-scale mass transit systems powered by wireless power transfer. Other installations may include off-road applications like fork lifts and haulers in industrial yards.
WAVE capabilities transfer energy wirelessly to stationary vehicles using infrastructure embedded in the roadway to vehicle-mounted receiver plates. This wireless charging ability reduces battery size requirements and allows for continuous use of the electric vehicle.
“This grant is a solid endorsement of our technology and commercialization efforts at Utah State University,” said Robert T Behunin, Vice President for Commercialization and Regional Development at USU.
TIGGER grants (Transit Investment for Greenhouse Gas and Energy Reduction) are capital investments to reduce transit system energy consumption and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions awarded by the Federal Transit Administration. The Utah Transit Authority sponsored WAVE’s TIGGER application to the FTA. TIGGER grantees, specifically, utilize innovative technologies of national significance that are not normally funded by other FTA programs. Federal regulations require applicants to partner with transit authorities, like the UTA, in order to receive funding consideration.
“University research and industry partnerships lead to innovation and economic impact for the state and local economies,” said Behunin. “USU has a robust technology portfolio that continues to grow and we look forward to commercial opportunities that result from leveraging the broad talents of our academic, research and business employee base with the backing of a strong research institution.”
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