Ono Ono Sokki Co., Ltd. (President: Yuji Okoshi), a manufacturer and distributor of electronic measuring instruments, has been conducting research on in-vehicle power supply systems since 2018 as part of a joint research group (hereinafter referred to as "this research group") with the Fujimoto-Shimizu Laboratory at the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Bridgestone Corporation, NSK Ltd., ROHM Co., Ltd., Toyo Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd., DENSO Corporation, Mitsui Fudosan Co., Ltd., SWCC Co., Ltd., CARMATE Co., Ltd., and the Miyagi Laboratory at Chiba University.
We are pleased to announce the launch of Japan's first "on-road charging demonstration experiment" within Kashiwa-no-ha Smart City. This demonstration experiment will be conducted as part of the "Initiative to Develop On-Road Charging Technology for Electric Vehicles" under the framework of the "Kashiwa ITS Promotion Council," which is comprised of the University of Tokyo, Kashiwa City, and other related organizations.
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*Scenes from the departure ceremony. From left to right.
Hiroyuki Osaki, Head of Department / Department of Advanced Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Professor Hiroshi Fujimoto / Department of Advanced Energy Engineering, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of Tokyo
Mayor Kazumi Ota / Kashiwa City
Director Kazuhisa Fujii / Chiba National Highway Office, Kanto Regional Development Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism
Four key points of this announcement
(1) A power supply system that can be used in various vehicles while driving
To accommodate various vehicle conditions, it is necessary to properly control the power supply. Our research group has developed an in-driving power supply system that can be used for both electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid vehicles by properly controlling the power supply.
(2) In-vehicle power supply system that will lead to standardization
If the power transmission coil is constantly energized, energy will be wasted when there is no vehicle above the coil. To solve this problem, our research group is developing a new vehicle detection system that can detect vehicles in a short time while minimizing standby power consumption. By verifying this system on public roads, we will contribute to the standardization of on-road power supply systems.
(3) High-durability precast coil
For safe use, it is necessary to develop coils that are durable enough to serve as a road surface while also being capable of transmitting electricity. Our research group is verifying the durability of precast coils, which integrate the coil and road surface, to withstand public road testing.
(4) Ono Sokki provides and introduces the "RC-S Actual Vehicle Transient Bench".
We are providing Ono Sokki 's "RC-S Real Vehicle Transient Bench" to recreate slopes and driving environments, contributing to the development of evaluation environments for front and rear wheel steering, etc.
Japan's first public road demonstration (Kashiwa City)
In the area centered around Kashiwanoha Campus Station, advanced urban development is underway based on the "Kashiwanoha International Campus Town Concept" through public-private-academic collaboration. Various initiatives aimed at creating a smart city are also being implemented. In 2019, the area was selected as a "Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Smart City Model Project (Pioneering Model Project)," and a "Smart City Implementation Plan" was formulated. The area is working to resolve urban and regional issues by utilizing new technologies and public-private data.
As part of this initiative, in June 2023, the demonstration experiment of in-motion charging technology for electric vehicles, which is being conducted within the framework of the "Kashiwa ITS Promotion Council" *1 in collaboration with Kashiwa City, the University of Tokyo, and other related organizations, was selected by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as a "Field Demonstration Experiment of New Road-Related Initiatives (Social Experiment)" *2. From October 2023 to March 2025, the first demonstration of in-motion charging technology for electric vehicles on a public road in Japan and confirmation of its social acceptance will be conducted on a city road near the west exit of Kashiwanoha Campus Station.
We believe that this social experiment will make a significant contribution to mitigating the progression of global warming by realizing a low-carbon road traffic system, as outlined in the road policy vision "By 2040, the landscape of roads will change" *3.
*1: Kashiwa ITS Promotion Council
*2: Kashiwa City's initiative to demonstrate on-road power supply technology has been selected as a social experiment by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (announced June 30, 2023).
*3: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, The landscape of roads will change in 2040.
Research and development of on-board power supply systems (University of Tokyo)
A research group led by Professor Hiroshi Fujimoto and Associate Professor Osamu Shimizu of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo (hereafter referred to as the University of Tokyo Group) was selected in 2017 by the JST Project for the Creation of Future Society as "Future Society Paved by Direct Power Supply to Electric Vehicles" and has been conducting research and development of a power charging system while driving. Currently, the research is being conducted in collaboration with Bridgestone Corporation, NSK Corporation, ROHM Corporation, Toyo Denki Seizo K.K., Ono Sokki, Denso Corporation, Mitsui Fudosan Co. The systems and technologies researched and developed by this research group will be introduced in this demonstration experiment. Since this experiment will be conducted on public roads, the vehicle will be equipped with a power supply system while driving and will have its license plate number obtained.
The transmission coil used in this experiment was designed by the University of Tokyo Group and has specifications that enable a standard electric vehicle to run for 1 km after being charged for 10 seconds.
Future prospects
We plan to continue the public road demonstration experiment from October 2023 to March 2025. Based on the results of this demonstration experiment, we will promote the development of an even more advanced on-road charging system, aiming for the early implementation of on-road charging in society.
