ABSTRACT

Dynamic wireless charging for electric vehicles (EVs) is a new technology that allows cars to charge while driving, potentially reducing the need for large batteries and long charging stops—especially useful for delivery fleets or long trips. But this convenience comes with a challenge: it puts sudden, high demands on the electric grid, which can be difficult to handle if not planned carefully. The key to solving this problem lies in understanding how traffic moves and how much energy cars will need as they pass through charging zones.

Rather than relying on personal driving data, which can be hard to collect and raises privacy concerns, or on rigid assumptions that lead to oversized, expensive systems, we take a broader view. By analyzing overall traffic patterns, we estimate when and where charging will be needed across a stretch of road. This approach is not only more scalable, but it also helps utilities plan smarter, more flexible systems. We tested this on a real California highway, modeling everyday traffic, traffic jams, accidents, and even emergencies like wildfires. The results show this method can cut costs and energy needs while still keeping the system reliable, helping pave the way for cleaner, more efficient transportation.

Note: This project is part of the Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE) initiative at Purdue University, supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), and contributes to developing smarter, scalable, and more sustainable transportation systems.

BIOGRAPHY

Dipanjan Ghose is a Ph.D. student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University (starting Fall 2024), jointly advised by Prof. Sivaranjani Seetharaman (Industrial Engineering) and Prof. Jujie Qin (ECE). His research, "Drive, Charge, Repeat: Traffic-Aware Grid Planning for Dynamic EV Charging Roadways," explores the intersection of electric vehicles, traffic behavior, and power systems to develop smarter, scalable infrastructure solutions. He holds a Master’s degree in ECE with a Graduate Portfolio in Energy Studies from the University of Texas at Austin, and a B.Tech in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from India. Before joining Purdue, he worked at Texas Instruments in Dallas and served as a Research Scientist at UT Austin’s Intelligent Environments Lab. His interests span energy optimization, EV systems, microgrid design, and energy policy. Outside of research, Dipanjan enjoys traveling, swimming, reading, discovering new music—and petting strangers’ dogs.