A first road with integrated induction charging in North America
The increase in the number of electric vehicles on the roads requires a charging network that can support all this increase. It is for this reason that the number of charging stations is constantly increasing.
However, some companies are working to offer alternative solutions, such as roads that allow you to charge an electric vehicle wirelessly just by driving on it. The first section of road to feature this technology in North America has just seen the light of day, as part of a pilot project.
Charge your vehicle wirelessly
This wireless charging road project in the United States was initially announced in February 2022 and was completed in 2023. It is actually a pilot project that extends over a distance of 1.61 kilometers , in the heart of downtown Detroit, Michigan.
It’s the technology company Electreon who took care of the project in the American city. This Israeli company is not its first project of this kind, since they have already installed such sections of road elsewhere in the world.
How does it work? The technology uses the principle of a series of specialized coils installed under the asphalt. These are connected to a series of power management hubs located along the edge of the road. When the electric vehicle equipped with a corresponding receiver travels on the road, it absorbs energy as it passes through each coil.
However, for this to work, the electric vehicle must be equipped with a receiver, which is not the case with the electric vehicles currently on our roads. Automobile manufacturers will therefore have to install the necessary equipment under and in the vehicle, in order to make operation possible.
According to the company Electreon, the installation of this type of charging system would be especially favored in urban centers and at intersections. The reason? Reportedly, for optimal charging, the technology requires each car to stay on top of the coils to actually charge, which is not optimal on a highway.
Various builders work there
Earlier this year, one of our colleagues at RPM reported that the American manufacturer Ford had filed a patent for an aftermarket induction system. In addition, according to certain information, the South Korean manufacturer Genesis is also working on this principle of charging for an electric vehicle.
There is therefore a certain interest on the part of manufacturers to develop this technology which would allow greater charging flexibility for consumers.
Although this technology is still in the development stage with automobile manufacturers and a pilot project for the road network, it could be an interesting avenue for charging electric vehicles. However, we will have to wait for the results regarding effectiveness before seeing this technology expand.
