The First Electrified Road In The US Can Charge Electric Cars As They Travel On It

Detroit has introduced the first electrified road in the U.S. that can charge electric vehicles (EVs) while they are being driven!

This innovative technology uses copper inductive charging coils installed beneath the street, enabling EVs equipped with receivers to charge while driving, idling, or parked above these coils.

The pilot project, developed by Electron, a company based in Israel, is part of a larger initiative to advance electric vehicle technology and infrastructure​​.

How road charging works

When a vehicle with a receiver nears the charging segments, the coils beneath the road transfer electricity through a magnetic field, charging the vehicle’s battery. The coils only activate when a vehicle with a receiver passes over them.

Tongur told reporters the roadway is safe for pedestrians, motorists, and animals. The state Department of Transportation and Electreon made a five-year commitment to developing the electric road system.

The DOT is expected to seek bids to rebuild part of busy Michigan Avenue, where inductive charging will also be installed.

As electric vehicles increase in popularity in the United States, the Biden administration has made its plan for half a million EV charging stations a signature piece of its infrastructure goals.

The wireless-charging roadway helps put Michigan and Detroit at the forefront of electric vehicle technology, officials said.

“In Michigan, we want to stay ahead of the curve. We want to lead the curve,” Michigan DOT Director Bradley C Wieferich said.

No decisions have been made on revenue models in Michigan, Tongur said.

“The technology is smart,” he said. “The technology knows who you are — you’re a verified and authentic user — you can get a charge”.