Nuremberg, October 2016 – Leoni, the leading European provider of cables and cable systems to the automotive sector and other industries, is, in the field of electromobility, working on solutions for cooled charging systems. Corresponding cables, which are fixed to charging stations, can carry higher currents and thereby help to dramatically shorten the times to charge electric and hybrid vehicles. Leoni will present a concept at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg (Hall 4, Stand 4102).

Long charging times are a disadvantage for drivers of electric cars and plug-in hybrids (PHEV) and also inhibit greater popularity of such vehicles. Furthermore, the number of vehicles that need to be charged at such hotspots as motorway services will rise. The introduction of fast charging stations will consequently be a key to the success of electromobility. Concepts are currently being developed that will enable charging times of three to five minutes for a range of 100 kilometres.

The objective is to provide mobility suited for everyday use. An example: a car like the Tesla Model S with an 85-kilowatt battery and a range of about 400 km would consequently need a charging time of only about 15 minutes. Achieving this requires currents of up to 400 amperes to be carried from the charging station to the car’s high-voltage battery, which corresponds to power of up to 400 kilowatts. Conventional charging systems, which are sized for lower currents, would overheat in such a case. A cooled charging cable, on the other hand, will withstand strain of this kind. Its major advantage is that the cable’s cross section can be significantly reduced despite higher charging currents. The charging cable thus remains flexible and easy to handle.