04/01/2012Continental presents a new concept which, in future, will allow electric vehicles to be remotely charged away from domestic power sockets via a special EVPowerAPP. Energy generating tires, cooling hoses with mini-turbines and special super capacitors round off the expanded EV portfolio which will be available from April 1st.

Hanover/Regensburg.One of the largest challenges in the field of electric mobility has now been solved by the international automotive supplier Continental with its groundbreaking new app for Smartphones. Whereas, in the past, the range of an electric vehicle was largely defined by the limitations of the onboard battery, Smartphone technology is now set to push electric cars into a whole new world of success. Continental EVPowerAPP, which will soon be available for all standard types of Smartphones, will enable users to charge the traction batteries of their electric vehicles on the go via their Smartphone. Initially, the EVPowerAPP will use the USB port of the Smartphone to transfer electricity. The cell phone draws the electricity for the vehicle battery from the UMTS network or from the nearest WLAN (based on the latest standard IEEE 802.11n/1.04). The next generation will then offer wireless interfaces (Bluetooth and Near Field Communication) between cell phone and car for even more comfortable mobile charging via cell phone.

The Continental EVPowerAPP will enable users to charge the traction batteries of their electric vehicles on the go via their Smartphone.


Charging via the mobile communications network with super capacitors

In addition, Continental is also working on another innovation for the next generation of electric vehicles. If it is not possible to get enough electricity via the UMTS interface, the range of the electric vehicle can be boosted in reception blackspots with the aid of SD cards which offer ever increasing storage capacity and are used in tandem with the new super capacitors from Continental which have been specially optimized for SD cards.

The first car tire to produce energy while rolling

The new Continental high-tech tire ContiChargeContact has been specially designed for electric vehicles and also helps to increase their range. Not only does the optimized rolling resistance of the tire reduce energy consumption by up to five percent, but while the car is driving, piezoelectric elements in the tire can even return energy to the vehicle. These elements converts the deformation energy of the rolling tires into electrical energy. This is done with the aid of a secret piezo material mix, which is incorporated in the tire compound. This is then directly picked up by the pressure sensors on the inner tire wall and relayed to the rechargeable battery via the international standard A2DP. In this way, the range of an electric vehicle can be extended by up to 15 percent.

Hose lines with micro-turbine generate additional charging current

The ContiTech division has developed a special hose line for electric vehicles which generates energy while the vehicle is being driven. This is done with the aid of a micro-turbine which has been integrated in the battery cooling line which converts the flow pressure of the cooling medium to a usable form of energy. Over flat terrain, the range can be boosted in this way by up to two percent, while tests carried out on roads with a steep decline saw an increase of up to five percent due to the increased flow rate in the hose.

The Continental EVPowerAPP uses the motion sensors in the Smartphone as mini-dynamos: Rhythmic movements can be used to generate power for the Electric Vehicle.


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Rhythmic cell phone movements produce emergency power

If, however, a user ever requires even more electrical energy, EVPowerAPP has a final trick up its sleeve. Using motion sensors in the Smartphone as mini-dynamos, rhythmic movements can be used to generate power in the cell phone in order to bridge the last few meters to the next UMTS transmission area with a strong enough signal. However, Continental wishes to emphasize that, in most countries, drivers are legally obliged to keep their hands on the steering wheel while driving, and that it is therefore better to ask a passenger to use this particular cell phone charging feature. The Continental energy management system monitors the actual energy demand of all systems throughout the entire drive, thereby ensuring that the driver assistance systems remain fully ready for operation at all times.

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This press release was issued by Continental AG and was initially posted at http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/com/en/continental/pressportal/themes/press_releases/3_aut omotive_group/interior/press_releases/pr_2012_04_01_elektrofahrzeuge_per_handy_laden_en,version=10.h tml . It was distributed, unedited and unaltered, by noodls on 2012-04-01 10:19:14 AM. The issuer is solely responsible for the accuracy of the information contained therein.