Swiss technology specialist BRUSA Elektronik AG is claiming a first for electric vehicle fast charging with the launch of its NLG6 battery charger. Small enough to be fitted on-board an electric car, the unit can operate on a three-phase current with power of up to 22 kW, meaning that it could fully charge a typical electric vehicle in less than one hour.
The NLG6 has a power density of 1.9 kW/kg and is said to be six times faster than current on-board chargers, which in Europe normally operate with a maximum power of 3.7 kW and deliver charging times range between six and eight hours.
According to BRUSA the charger requires no cost-intensive off-board infrastructure and can offer charging speeds previously only possible with off-board, bulky DC charging set-ups.
The charger can "generally be used at all three-phase power supplies" and is compatible with lower rate supplies such as 3.7 kW. BRUSA says that "modern house connections and most public charging points are already equipped with the required power supply of 400 volt and 32 ampere," but many in the U.S. and elsewhere around the world would need an infrastructure upgrade to take full advantage of the unit at home.
To increase safety, the NLG6 charger uses galvanic isolation, that is, no metal conductors are involved. This prevents harm in cases of damaged high-voltage connections. Besides, the charger does not tap into the power of existing components, such as the engine or the controller’s power electronics, meaning there is a clear separation between the car and the grid. The Association for Electric, Electronic & Information Technologies have green-lighted the charger for conforming to the CE mark, which is mandatory in Europe.
There unit also offers intelligent charging features such as ideal and peak power regulation and bidirectional operation.
BRUSA, which has already delivered complete drivetrain sets for the Volvo C30 Electric fleet, says a cars from a "major European car manufacturer" equipped with its charger will be available by the end of the year. Once large-scale production proves successful, the company will make it available for small manufacturers and projects in early 2013.
The charger will be on display at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg, Germany, between October 10th and 12th.
Source: BRUSA
