Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has recently clinched a staggering 14 awards from the R&D 100, a significant nod to the institution's substantial contributions to science and technology innovation. ORNL's sweeping wins at the awards, often likened to the "Oscars of Innovation" due to their prestige, were celebrated this week, with R&D World magazine highlighting the laboratory's influence in propelling industrial progress.
Highlighted among the awarded developments was ORNL's ground-breaking wireless charging technology for electric vehicles, which distinguishes itself not only through record-breaking power transfer achievements but also through its innovative design which allows for a more compact and lightweight system. The ORNL team made a world-record wireless power transfer to a Hyundai Kona EV at 100 kilowatts and 270 kilowatts to a Porsche Taycan EV, milestones that bring the EV charging experience on par with traditional fueling methods. "ORNL researchers push the edge of innovation," said ORNL Director Stephen Streiffer, as per the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, emphasizing the importance of such advancements for national challenges.
Spanning 16 countries and regions with 141 finalists in the running, the R&D 100 Awards ceremony is set to take place on November 21, 2024, in Palm Desert, California. ORNL was featured in 24 of the finalist projects, showcasing a breadth of research that touches on multiple fields of scientific endeavor. As these awards annually celebrate research leading to market-ready products and technologies, ORNL’s recent wins underscore the laboratory's tangible impact on everyday technology.
The prestigious awards, heralding over 60 years of innovation, are a testament to the pivotal role research and development platforms like ORNL play in shaping future technologies. Exciting leaps forward such as the Polyphase Electromagnetic Couplers the lab developed are prime examples, enabling electric vehicles to come closer to the conventional gas station refueling experience in terms of both practice and practicality. "This technology also achieved power densities 8 to 10 times higher than existing systems", informed the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, an indication that such innovations are not only about breaking records but also pushing the boundaries of efficiency and performance.
