SmaFaC
Smart Fast Charger - intelligent fast charging for e-bikes
Electromobility in today's society is subject to major challenges. On the one hand, electrification is intended to save CO2, but on the other hand, these savings must also be ensured across the entire value chain. In urban areas, this can be achieved by increasing the use of electric bicycles, among other things, as they have low consumption, a comparatively low CO2 share in production and meet the individual mobility needs of the population. The charging times of several hours that are common today can be seen as a hindrance, which is why the SmaFaC project is addressing precisely this issue with a new type of fast-charging technology.
The introduction of fast charging options for electric bikes with a charging time of just 20 minutes (project objective) would have a significant impact. It would increase bicycle use, reduce traffic and CO2 emissions, relieve the environment and promote health. It would strengthen the local economy, make commuting more efficient and improve air quality. Commuters could charge their bikes while at work, saving time and increasing productivity. Fewer cars also means fewer greenhouse gas emissions, both in use and in production, which benefits the environment. Overall, society would benefit by supporting various sectors such as commuters, businesses, the healthcare industry and environmental organizations.
The scientific goal is to develop and validate an innovative, smart charging technology with wide-bandgap transistors to drive the transformation of the electric energy system as part of the energy transition. This includes shortening charging cycles, monitoring to detect and avoid battery faults, increasing efficiency by avoiding unnecessary conversion stages and minimizing grid harmonics to ensure grid quality and stability for electromobility. Innovations include intelligent, efficient and compact charging electronics based on wide-bandgap transistors and a new charging strategy to increase efficiency, compactness and reduce the cost of the entire charging system. Innovative battery monitoring using impedance spectroscopy and cell temperature measurement enables real-time monitoring of the battery condition. The synergy of new hardware and charging strategy aims to minimize charging equipment and increase safety standards, which in turn promotes innovation and growth in the domestic development location.
General information about the project:
Term: 01.01.2025 - 31.12.2027
Project management:
Project partners:
- Porsche eBike Performance GmbH
- FRIWO Gerätebau GmbH
Project sponsor:
- VDI Technologiezentrum GmbH (VDI-TZ)
Project funding:
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Funding program:
- Forschung an Fachhochschulen in Kooperation mit Unternehmen (FH-Kooperativ)
Institutions:
