Wireless Charging Bus 'Olleve'... Pilot Operation in Daejeon Daedeok Special Zone

Wireless charging flowchart of the electric bus 'Olev'. Provided by KAIST

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The futuristic eco-friendly bus equipped with wireless charging technology, ‘Olleve (On-Line Electronic Vehicle)’, will begin pilot operation in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon.

On the 24th, Daejeon City and the Ministry of Science and ICT announced that from today, Olleve will be piloted for two years on the Daedeok Special Zone circular route connecting Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) ~ Daedeok Special Zone research institutes ~ DCC ~ urban railway stations (Wolpyeong, Yuseong Oncheon, Guam).

Olleve will operate from 6 a.m. (first bus) to 10 p.m. (last bus), with fares set the same as regular city buses: 1,250 KRW for adults, 750 KRW for youth, and 350 KRW for children, payable only by transportation card.

The wireless charging electric bus pilot project is part of the Daedeok Special Zone Re-creation Leading Project and is promoted as part of the ‘Daedeok Science Culture Street Creation Project’ jointly supported by the city and the Ministry of Science and ICT. Olleve will undergo a two-year pilot period to verify technical issues and citizen convenience.

The wireless charging technology applied to Olleve was developed by KAIST using a self-developed magnetic resonance method. This technology involves attaching a wireless charging device (receiver) to the electric bus and embedding a wireless charger (transmitter) under the bus stop, utilizing a 5kHz frequency band to enable wireless charging before and after the bus enters the stop and while it is stationary.

A key feature is the use of core technology (magnetic resonance shaping technology) that can safely transmit large-capacity electrical energy wirelessly, allowing the electric bus to charge while driving or stopped.

Previously, in September last year, the city received a regulatory sandbox exemption from the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) regulatory sandbox review to demonstrate wireless charging services for electric buses at two bus stops within KAIST on the Daedeok Research and Development Special Zone circular electric bus route.

In particular, during the demonstration, this technology was evaluated as superior in safety and land use because, unlike wired charging methods, it allows wireless charging of multiple vehicles without installing separate charging facilities or additional connectors, and the power supply cables are buried underground. For example, when this technology is applied, the wireless charging electric bus can charge 150 kW in one hour and travel 150 km.

However, Olleve charges 50 kW during the 20-minute driver break on the Daedeok Special Zone circular route, enabling it to travel 23.5 km.

Meanwhile, the city and the Ministry of Science and ICT held an opening ceremony the day before the Olleve pilot operation. At the ceremony, Heo Tae-jeong, mayor of Daejeon, said, “I hope the future technology developed in Daejeon will gradually expand its application beyond the region to the whole country and the world,” and “I ask for citizens’ great interest in Olleve, a futuristic eco-friendly transportation means.”

Minister Lim Hye-sook of the Ministry of Science and ICT said, “The demonstration of wireless charging bus technology is a bold challenge toward ‘2050 Carbon Neutrality,’ serving as a starting point for the public to experience science and technology in daily life and improve quality of life,” and “We will spare no policy support, including investment for technology development, to accelerate the transition to a carbon-neutral society through science and technology.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.