SAE International’s SAE Wireless Power Transfer & Alignment Taskforce has completed its consensus process and decided upon Differential Inductive Positioning System (DIPS) as the technology alignment methodology for the SAE J2954 standard. The task force, consisting of automakers (OEMs), Tier 1s and wireless charging suppliers, were surveyed to determine minimum common methods for alignment (fine alignment, pairing, and alignment check) to be standardized and agreed upon DIPS as the alignment technology for the upcoming revision for SAE J2954, Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) for light-duty plug-in or EVs and alignment methodology.

“EV charging should be as simple as parking in the right spot and walking away, SAE J2954 Standard enables this,” Jesse Schneider, chair of the SAE Wireless Power Transfer Task Force (ZEV Station) said. “The SAE J2954 Taskforce decided on the standardized alignment method DIPS, completing the standard, making a seamless and automated, all-weather wireless charging and parking. With this, the team has solved the missing link for wireless charging commercialization for EVs.”

SAE said Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) following SAE J2954 enables a fully automatic wireless charging solution for EVs and efficient charging (up to 93%) of electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles. The next revision of SAE J2954 with DIPS enables automated parking and charging for autonomous vehicles.

The new J2954 standard alignment system, DIPS, is described as a low-frequency, low-intensity magnetic field generated from the ground assembly with multiple coils that can evaluated by the vehicle assembly for positioning. A conformance test is done to ensure interoperability between the vehicle and the charging pad. Ground and vehicle WPT assembly manufacturers can develop and test systems according to this interoperability specification, SAE said. The DIPS transmitter and receiver coils can be fully integrated into the GA and VA.