Altair > Case Studies > Gulplug: Revolutionizing the Charging Industry with Altair's Startup Program

Gulplug: Revolutionizing the Charging Industry with Altair's Startup Program

Technology Category

Other - Battery
Platform as a Service (PaaS) - Device Management Platforms

Applicable Industries

Automotive
Electronics

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Autonomous Transport Systems
Transportation Simulation

Services

System Integration

About The Customer

Gulplug is a French startup located in Grenoble, France. Founded in 2014 as a spin-off of Schneider Electric Group, Gulplug is a pioneer in the e-mobility industry. The company is dedicated to revolutionizing plug and charging technology used in electric and hybrid vehicles. Gulplug addresses two different markets – cleantech business and clean mobility. For the cleantech business, the company offers energy efficiency by supporting factories and plants with a monitoring device to monitor, analyze, and reduce energy consumption with wireless and battery-less, self-powered energy sensors. For clean mobility, Gulplug provides a new way to connect electric vehicles to electricity via an automatic, self-plugging conductive charging system.

The Challenge

Gulplug, a French startup, was faced with the challenge of creating an innovative, automatically self-plugging, magnetic-based charging solution for electric vehicles. As a spin-off of Schneider Electric Group, Gulplug aimed to revolutionize plug and charging technology used in today's electric and hybrid vehicles. However, as a startup, they had limited funds and spending a large portion of their budget on software was not feasible. Furthermore, the company was also looking for simulation tools to predict and improve the performance of their system by creating and analyzing virtual models. The challenge was not only to develop a new charging solution but also to do so in a cost-effective manner without compromising on the quality and efficiency of the product.

The Solution

Altair's startup program provided the solution to Gulplug's challenge. The program offered access to a range of simulation, IoT, and HPC solutions at an affordable price. Gulplug used Altair Flux™, a part of the Altair startup program, to model and create their innovative charging solution. The Selfplug® solution developed by Gulplug comprises a ground connector of about 50 cm in diameter with a vehicle plug fitted into the vehicle. The plug has to be placed right at the center of the ground unit. Gulplug developed an electromagnetic solution and used a permanent magnet to guide and fix the plug in the center of the device. Flux was used to model all magnetic issues, helping the engineers to define the sizes and placement of the coils used inside the device which are required to create the electromagnetic force to guide the plug.

Operational Impact

The operational results of Gulplug's collaboration with Altair's startup program have been significant. The use of Flux has allowed Gulplug to create a model of their device that can be easily shared with customers, car makers, and equipment suppliers before spending money on building a physical device or prototype. This has not only saved costs but also increased confidence prior to physical product development. Furthermore, the innovative charging solution developed by Gulplug is more competitively priced, provides more power, and there is no HF radiation at all, compared to other contactless charging solutions available in the automotive industry. This has positioned Gulplug as a leader in the e-mobility industry, driving innovation in the market.

Quantitative Benefit