Converting Power Into Confidence
UF69 European Committee of Standardization

BPI France and Mov’eo support Watt & Well’s innovation

 

Keywords: e-mobility, bidirectional charger, V2G application, zero-emission future, smart ecosystem, high density power unit, HDPU, EMI chamber

 

Watt & Well is the trusted power electronics equipment supplier for leaders in demanding industries (aerospace, oil & gas, emobility). The high-tech company is now supported by BPI France and Mov'eo to extend capabilities for the development of its high-density power unit also known as the bidirectional modular power unit. The ultimate advanced solution in the V2G era.

Powering the zero-emission future

While the lack of infrastructure keeps being a hurdle to overcome, the niche market of V2G is setting the premises of a smart ecosystem. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance, more than 1.6 million EVs were sold in 2018. By 2040, that figure is set to jump to 559 million. Watt & Well is designing and manufacturing the on-board chargers aimed at this market.

In line with the French government incentives to promote the introduction and adoption of technology able to reduce the greenhouse effect, BPI France, the French government agency, is funding Watt & Well - as part of the PIA3 R&D Sud PACA subvention. It supports the development of the bidirectional modular power unit.

The outcome is eagerly expected from the sponsors, including Mov’eo (business accelerator), as the ambition is to power the zero-emission future.

 

A beyond state-of-the-art onboard charger

The project team includes PhDs and expert-engineers specialized in power electronics design. Their mission is to provide a disruptive technology able to respond both in cost, shape, and efficiency. To ease the bonne-route of the mission, Watt & Well invested in several acquisitions: Tektronix IsoVu probes, an EMI chamber, an EMI receiver, a grid impedance simulator, and a three-phase AC power supply. Much more investment is to come.

The development of such a technology aims to lower volume and ease the charger installation thanks to high-density power. To reach density, the engineers focus on thermal and EMI aspects. As for the modular approach, it gives power flexibility and parallel operations. This overall R&D performance is expected to reduce the costs of the power units while their unique design makes them operational over the entire planet (standards-compliant).

In terms of planning, the engineering team already completed the conception and theoretical study as well as the production of the prototypes. In 2020, the test & qualification will be run to allow

the first production batch. A noteworthy date as it will be a mandatory requirement for all cars in both The Netherlands and Germany to be zero-emission vehicles by 2030.