While the cost of building vast motorways that can wirelessly charge EVs is prohibitive, the technology could be useful for bus routes, traffic signals, or roads where people spend a significant amount of time trapped in traffic.
Electreon, an Israeli startup, has revealed plans to develop the first road in the United States with wireless charging capability for electric vehicles.
The trial project, which will be completed next year in Detroit, Michigan, will be one mile long at first.
The road will function by having an underground network of charging coils that connect to the electrical grid, with electric vehicles (EVs) needing a receiver to charge while driving over them.
People and animals crossing the roadway will not be electrocuted because the system does not emit electricity without an operational receiver.
It’s also modular, with each coil connected to the grid separately, so a pothole won’t render the entire charging system inoperable.
The cost per mile is determined by the vehicle and its speed. While the road will not entirely recharge a battery, given its length, it will top it up slightly, allowing EVs to go further before needing to use a charging station.
The receivers can also run up a bill, which the vehicle owner can pay for later.
Bus routes, according to an Electreon spokesperson, would be an ideal site to install this charging system because they are predictable and repetitious.
Areas with heavy traffic congestion may also work, as your vehicle will have time to charge while stuck in traffic.
The concept sounds similar to Logitech’s Powerplay system, which uses a specific mouse pad to charge a wireless controller while in use.
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