Energy Limits for Wireless Power Systems ‘Premature’ CEA Tells DOE

The Department of Energy must avoid subjecting a charging device to two different regulations as it proceeds with its rulemaking on energy conservation standards for battery chargers and external power supplies, the CEA said in comments. “CEA’s foremost concern is DOE’s contemplation of a ‘double jeopardy’ regulatory situation,” in which a charging device is subjected to two different test procedures and efficiency standards, the group said. The agency can avoid such a situation by defining a charging device as either a battery charger of an external power supply and subject it to one test procedure and efficiency standard, said Douglas Johnson, vice president of technology policy.

The DOE’s inclusion of wireless power systems in its rulemaking for battery chargers and power supplies is “premature,” the CEA said. Wireless power systems are a “relatively new and emerging market,” and clubbing them with proposed regulations for battery chargers and power supplies could “negatively impact innovation in this emerging technology,” the group said. Energy efficiency standards for “infrequently charged” products may not be “cost-effective.” The CEA pointed out that the department has grouped data on such products with those for other devices with different usage patterns. The agency should “address infrequently-used products specifically and separately” because energy limits for such products “may not be economically justified,” the CEA said.

It’s not clear that DOE has accounted for the fact that highly energy efficient batteries aren’t appropriate for all product applications, the CEA said. “Certain battery chemistries are inherently less energy efficient, yet they have significant benefits in other areas related to operating environment, product performance or product longevity,” the group said. The DOE must take these factors into consideration and “allow for appropriate differentiation of energy efficiency requirements by battery chemistry,” it said. The department should also consider the possibility that a “sufficient increase in costs” resulting from regulations could drive manufacturers to replace rechargeable batteries with disposable alkaline batteries that could “present additional environmental impacts,” the group said. It said battery charging systems for in-vehicle electronics shouldn’t be regulated because they don’t consume energy from the grid and so no cost-savings can accrue to the consumers.