Wireless Power Transfer for Electric Mobility: Coil Designs, Power Electronics, and Interoperability
Keywords:
Wireless power transfer, electric vehicles, inductive charging, coil design, power electronics, interoperability, SAE J2954, wide-bandgap semiconductors, dynamic charging, smart mobilityAbstract
This review aims to systematically analyze and synthesize recent advancements in coil design, power electronics, and interoperability frameworks for wireless power transfer (WPT) in electric mobility applications. This study followed a qualitative systematic review design based on literature published between 2015 and 2025. A total of fifteen peer-reviewed journal and conference articles were selected from IEEE Xplore, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, and Scopus databases according to defined inclusion criteria: relevance to WPT systems for electric vehicles, coverage of coil topology or control systems, and focus on interoperability and standards. Data were extracted, coded, and analyzed thematically using NVivo 14 software. The inductive coding process proceeded through open, axial, and selective coding until theoretical saturation was achieved, resulting in three main thematic categories: (1) coil design and optimization, (2) power electronics and control systems, and (3) system-level interoperability and standardization. The synthesis revealed that coil geometry, compensation networks, and magnetic materials critically influence coupling efficiency and misalignment tolerance. Studies show the emergence of adaptive and reconfigurable coil architectures, supported by real-time field correction and advanced thermal management. Power electronics innovations—especially wide-bandgap semiconductor converters (SiC and GaN)—have significantly improved switching efficiency and power density, while intelligent control algorithms such as phase-shift modulation and model predictive control enhance dynamic regulation. At the system level, global standardization efforts (SAE J2954, IEC 61980, ISO 15118) have improved interoperability but remain challenged by cross-platform compatibility, communication latency, and cost barriers. Wireless power transfer for electric vehicles is transitioning from experimental to deployable technology through advances in adaptive coil designs, high-efficiency converters, and standardized frameworks. Achieving large-scale adoption will depend on harmonizing design optimization with global interoperability standards and addressing cost, safety, and policy challenges for sustainable integration into smart mobility ecosystems.
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