Charging on the Road

The first mile of public road that can wirelessly charge electric vehicles while they cruise along is planned to be installed near Detroit. The project is an important first step in developing an infrastructure that will accommodate the growing number electric vehicles in the future.

The induction charging system uses a series of magnetic coils embedded in the pavement that send power to a charging pad underneath the vehicle. It’s a fairly efficient method of charging with about 87 percent of the energy making its way to the battery, even while the car is moving. However, it does require the vehicle to be equipped for wireless charging, which can cost thousands of dollars. The biggest benefit is that drivers could extend the range of their electric vehicles without needing to plug them in and wait.

With the nickname of Motor City and its history in the automotive sector, Detroit seems an obvious choice to test advancements such as this. But it’s also an excellent option because it will enable testing in varying climate and weather conditions – from hot and sunny to below zero temperatures, with snow, ice, sleet, rain and everything in between. The project is slated for completion sometime in 2023.