Kickoff to Begin Testing Program to Validate SAE J2954 Wireless Charging Recommended Practice

Testing WPT3 wireless-charging coil sets from WiTricity. (image: WiTricity)

SAE International Ground Vehicle Standards activity is recruiting industry participants for a Cooperative Research Project (CRP) for Safe and Interoperable Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for charging hybrid and electric vehicles.

Automotive Engineering spoke with Jesse Schneider, Chairman of the SAE J2954 Taskforce regarding standardization related to the upcoming SAE WPT CRP testing program kickoff. “The Recommended Practice, SAE J2954 is on track to be released later this year, which will provide design and testing guidance for Wireless Power Transfer and alignment for Plug-in Hybrid/Electric Vehicles. Completion of the Recommended Practice for J2954 is the next step in the standardization process and provides specifications up to 11kW, WPT 3,” he said. Part of that massive, fast-track effort by the SAE J2954 Task Force to release the final SAE J2954 Standard involves both OEM and supplier participation in actual vehicle and infrastructure validation testing for the draft SAE J2954 standard.

In support of this CRP, scheduled to begin this fall, OEMs and manufacturers of wireless electric vehicle supply equipment (WEVSE) will provide WPT systems, collect data, finalize test procedures, validate processes and publish the standard SAE J2954 - Wireless Power Transfer Standard of Light Duty Plug-In/Electric Vehicles and Alignment Methodology. The goal is to complete the CRP in one year, ending in the second quarter of 2018.

Achieving safe and interoperable wireless charging between plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and WEVSE infrastructure requires standards for connectivity, safety and communications that ensure that all electric vehicles (EVs) can recharge safely and with high efficiency at any wireless charging station and in addition, have two-way communication with utilities to enable alignment, billing, reserving of parking spaces and other features also for autonomous vehicles.

The project involves conducting testing at three laboratories in the United States: Idaho National Laboratory (INL) in Idaho Falls, ID; Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) in Argonne, IL; and TDK Research and Development Corp. in Cedar Park, TX. Keith Wilson, SAE’s Project Manager, Technical Programs - Global Ground Vehicle Standards, said that bench testing will begin in the fall, followed by the full-vehicle testing beginning in 2018.

He explained that “many international automakers and suppliers have joined this cooperative effort that includes bench and vehicle testing, which will give us valuable data to validate the future standard.”

To date, seven OEM participants (BMW, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan and Toyota) and seven wireless charging suppliers (Continental, Delphi, IHI, Kaist, Lear, Qualcomm and WiTricity) have submitted letters of intent to join the project.

“One of the benefits of being involved in this CRP is that participants can share and receive test data from other vehicles and WEVSE systems that will be used to refine the standard,” Wilson said.

Interested participants may contact Keith Wilson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further details.

Autonomous Standards Webinar

In other Standards-related news, SAE International is hosting “Autonomous Vehicle Standards – A Comprehensive Discussion” on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at noon (U.S. EDT).

Sponsored by National Instruments, this SAE Standards Webinar will provide an overview of the current key standards in the Automated Vehicle Sector: SAE J3016 (Taxonomy and Definitions), SAE J3018 (Safe Testing of Highly Automated Vehicles on Public Roads), and SAE J3131 Automated Driving Reference Architecture. Speakers for the event are Dan Bartz, Automated Vehicle Engineer/Strategist, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Barbara Wendling, Principal Engineer - Automated Driving, Mercedes Benz R&D, North America. The session will be moderated by SAE International’s Lisa Arrigo.

Registration and further details can be found at https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1156012 .