Charging simply starts as soon as the user parks the vehicle above the charger.
Start-up Mego Mobility has developed a revolutionary wireless and contactless charging system for light electric vehicles. Charging simply starts as soon as the user parks the vehicle above the charger. This world premiere with the brand name Swell Electric can soon be admired at the 'World of eMobility' in the Expo Haarlemmermeer, October 27-29.
Terence Carter, founder of Mego Mobility, was looking for a universal charging solution for the electric fleet of his KlusHubs – more about that later. There was no such solution yet. The already existing charging tiles are mainly suitable for the lower power transfers, for example an electric bicycle. But these systems are not universal and the power transfer is not sufficient for larger vehicles such as microcars.
That is why Carter, who was a participant in the Mobility Lab start-up program in 2021, decided to develop a charging solution himself, in collaboration with electrical engineers from TU Delft. The result: the Swell Electric. This charging system can charge vehicles wirelessly and contactless, up to a distance of ten centimeters – the Airgap – and up to an energy requirement of no less than 1 kilowatt. Charging simply starts as soon as the user parks the vehicle above the charger.
Unique
The uniqueness of Swell Electric is that it can charge light electric vehicles (LEVs) with different power requirements: from, for example, a cargo bike, with a relatively low battery capacity, to a microcar. The transmitter in the charger recognizes the vehicle and adjusts the required power accordingly. The power is generated in the form of an electromagnetic field (induction). This field is collected by a coil, which is attached to the underside of the vehicle. By means of self-developed electronics, the power is converted into the correct form for the vehicle/battery concerned. The user can track the charging progress via two LED strips on the front of the charger. When the battery is sufficiently charged, or when the vehicle is moved, charging stops automatically.
Testers and investors wanted
The electronics are therefore universal, but must first be tested per vehicle type in order to work optimally. In this first phase, Mego Mobility has optimized the Swell Electric for the electric scooter of the Chinese brand Niu.
“This scooter is widely used in sharing systems. A wireless charging solution for this scooter does not yet exist and fleet operators currently have to change the batteries. This is an expensive part of the operational costs. Swell Electric therefore offers opportunities for shared mobility providers, as well as for parcel delivery services that are currently in the transition from van to a combination of LEVs for inner-city delivery. “That is why we are now looking for parties who want to test the charger in the form of a pilot and thus contribute to the transition to light electric transport. We are also looking for investors who want to contribute to the financing of this transition.”
Biro
In the next phase, Carter wants to step-by-step test the charger and optimize it for other vehicles, starting with the Birò. Apart from a small, removable battery or a normal plug, this microcar cannot be easily charged in the city. “The municipality of Amsterdam has indicated that this vehicle may not be connected to charging stations intended for cars. At the same time, the supply of LEVs is growing rapidly as cities become car-free and emission-free, so there is definitely a need for this system,” said Carter.
Carter himself will use the Swell Electric to charge the LEVs that he rents out on his KlusHubs. At transfer locations around large cities, professionals can rent these vehicles per half day: an electrically assisted cargo bike, an electric scooter or an electric microcar, the Birò. Customers park their car or bus at the Hub and drive into the city without emissions, without traffic jams or parking problems. With the rented vehicles, Mego Mobility targets professionals in the construction, maintenance and installation sector. The first KlusHubs have now been realized around Amsterdam and Rotterdam.
World of eMobility
Mego Mobility and Swell Electric will soon be on display at the 'World of eMobility' fair in the Expo Haarlemmermeer, from 27 – 29 October. During this fair, both major international brands and start-ups present their latest innovations in the field of sustainable mobility. The fair is open to everyone. Mego Mobility and Swell are in the 'Land of Tomorrow' hall.
