A new multi-million-pound government-backed project is hoping to bring wireless charging to fleet vehicles.
Project AMiCC is set to get underway in Leeds, Nottingham, and Warwick next month and will see eight modified Nissan Leaf and Nissan ENV200 evaluated to determine if wireless charging is the right fit for security, estate, and pool car fleets.
The first Nissan ENV200 models featuring wireless charging capability have been finished delivered to the University of Nottingham before the trial begins next month. The first wireless Nissan Leaf will be delivered in early August, with the additional models set to follow soon after. The project is due to last between six and nine months depending on user receptions.
“As we move steadily towards the UK’s ban on pure ICE vehicles in 2030, more commercial operations will be switching their fleets to electric vehicles,” says Richie Frost, founder and CEO of Sprint Power, the company leading the project.
“We are delighted to be part of this pioneering trial that aims to make this transition easier through the development and implementation of wireless charging. I strongly believe these solutions will be key to this country’s shift towards sustainable mobility.”
The new wireless charging coils underneath the modified vehicles.
According to Sprint Power and the people behind Project AMiCC, these fleet cars have low downtime and high utilisation, where drivers have just a short window to recharge the vehicle battery. Wired connections, which necessarily requires a user having to plug and unplug the vehicle many times a day, sap too much time. This is seen as one of the biggest barriers to transitioning these types of fleets to electric mobility.
By utilising advanced wireless charging technology, however, fleet users will benefit from improved cable-free usability, plus easier access to charging when vehicle downtime is short and frequent recharging is required.
As ever, AI and machine learning algorithms will capture information such as vehicle movement and optimum charging behaviour, while drivers will report back on their experiences using the technology.
Keyword: Eight Modified Wirelessly Charging Nissan Models to be Trialled in North of England