Design of a universal wireless charging solution for shared electric mopeds in cities

Abstract

Shared mobility has been present longer than you imagine. In the 1940s, the idea of sharing bicycles started in Switzerland. However, the modern manifestation only became popular about a decade ago, but since then, the market for sharing vehicles has grown significantly. In recent years, different ridesharing services have been popping up. In particular, shared mopeds are on the rise in The Netherlands. Pollution and congestion require us to rethink how we move around and new technologies make sharing continuously easier and more convenient.

However, operating shared mobility comes with its own set of challenges, and one major hurdle is the task of keeping all the vehicles charged. Shared moped providers integrated their mopeds into cities using a free-floating system: the user can leave and park the moped everywhere in the service area. With these mopeds spread out in the city, the providers are using a system called battery swapping to charge all these mopeds. However, the free-floating system has led to mopeds being randomly parked everywhere, causing inconvenience in cities. Sidewalks and streets are cluttered with parked mopeds, obstructing the residents’ movement. Furthermore, the battery swapping service is an expensive charging method, requiring vans, personnel, and storage locations.
The start-up TILER is currently developing a universal wireless charging solution for e-bikes, using the kickstand and a tile placed in the pavement to charge an e-bike. By integrating the current charging technology of TILER during this project, Mick was created. Mick, is a wireless charger designed specifically for electric mopeds. Mick incorporates a charger into the kickstand of the moped, allowing for effortless charging by simply parking the moped on the accompanying charging tile embedded in the pavement.

By integrating TILER’s current charging technology, Mick not only offers a convenient and reliable way to keep shared e-mopeds charged, but it also helps bring order to the cityscape as the mopeds will be neatly parked on their designated spots. This design effectively addresses the challenges associated with bulk charging batteries in the commercial logistic domain, eliminating the need for chaotic charging cabinets and multiple adapters. Moreover, it reduces the reliance on human responsibility, which often leads to reliability and scalability problems, not to mention fire hazards.

Mick’s innovative design not only enhances the charging experience but also improves the overall user experience of the shared mobility system, making it a promising solution for the future.