Novel Wireless-Charging Public Roadway Paves The Way For Electric Vehicle Innovation
As electric vehicles become more normalised on roads in the pursuit of clean options to power our cars, we should see more novel solutions to keep EVs charged, especially on long journeys. An North American city recently took a step into the future as officials unveiled USA's first stretch of wireless-charging public roadway.
What's the novel charging solution?
The road is located near Michigan Central Station in Corktown, Detroit, Michigan that is expected to become an electric vehicle innovation hub for Ford. The one-block stretch along 14th Street will allow EV drive to charge their cars by simply driving over the road. Fascinating, right? If this idea is scaled up, we wouldn't have to depend on the traditional approach to charging via stations.
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Officials used technology from Electreon and deployed inductive-charging coils between two streets that will charge electric vehicles equipped with Electreon receivers. "It may seem small now, but it's a huge step in 'how do we bring this to scale?'" said Michigan Central CEO Joshua Sirefman, as reported by WWJ Newsroom.
According to Sirefman, they'll assess how different types of EVs and fleets charge as they drive through the street. The data collected from this test will be used to develop long-term solutions to support the EV revolution.
How does wireless charging work?
Wireless charging for electric vehicles has the potential to drive adoption of such cars and bikes in the near-future, cementing the groundwork for a zero-emission future of mobility. Currently, most people are wary of buying an electric vehicle if they have to travel long routes.
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Electreon's wireless charging technology runs on inductive coupling between copper coils installed below the road surface and receivers on electric vehicles. When vehicles are near the road, the road transfers electricity wirelessly through a magnetic field.
Then, this electricity is transferred to the receiver as energy. This method makes both static charging (with the car parked) and dynamic charging (while driving) possible.
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