Fighter jets have been able to refuel on the go for decades, so why wouldn’t our electric cars be able to recharge their batteries while on the road? Well, it turns out they can, thanks to the game-changing wireless charging road system developed by Israeli company ElectReon.
Battery-electric vehicles (BEV) are evolving and gaining popularity at an accelerated pace. While much progress has been made in terms of hardware and infrastructure, recharging still takes significantly more time than refueling an ICE- or hydrogen-powered vehicle.
Thinking outside of the (wall) box, Israeli tech company ElectReon has been developing and implementing an innovative solution for this problem.
The system that is set to revolutionize transportation and accelerate the switch to electric mobility uses copper coils fitted under the asphalt, enabling EVs to charge their batteries wirelessly while on the move.
Photo: ElectReon
Like the technology used by our smart devices, the system needs vehicle-mounted receivers to work. According to the company, this is something that has not been implemented yet as a factory feature by any renowned carmaker but can be easy and cost-effective to add on existing and future EV models.
In terms of logistics, the only inconvenience is that a portion of the asphalt needs to be removed and replaced. Other than that, the system can connect to existing power grids without the need for additional infrastructure or transformation stations. It uses management units placed on the sides of the road to communicate with the receivers on the vehicles and transfer energy.
ElectReon is involved in multiple pilot programs to test the feasibility of this technology. Recently, the company has completed the deployment of its dynamic wireless charging system on a 1.65-km (1.02-mile) public road in Gotland, Sweden.
After performing several tests to make sure the system is stable, a fully electric long-haul truck was the first vehicle to be charged wirelessly by the Swedish smart road.
Photo: ElectReon
It drove on a 200-meter (0.1-mile) segment of the road, at various speeds of up to 60 kph (37 mph), averaging a transfer rate of 70 kW while also proving that snow and ice do not affect the charging capabilities.
"Charging a long-haul truck while driving on an electric road that is open to the public is an exceptional technological achievement coming after years of intense development. The achievement brings us closer to our goal of revolutionizing the field of electric vehicle charging and we thank the strong support from Trafikverket that enabled this to take place in Sweden," said Oren Ezer, CEO of ElectReon Wireless.
Following the successful tests, the company expects to start operation of the entire road once all the approvals from relevant authorities are granted. It will then commence trials with multiple vehicles that will charge simultaneously to calibrate and optimize the system further.
Photo: ElectReon - via YouTube
The company also completed the deployment of a 700-meter (0.4-mile) segment of dynamic charging road back home in Israel, in the Ramat Aviv neighborhood of Tel Aviv.
This technology's potential is limitless; apart from the elimination of range anxiety and time-consuming conventional charging, it will make EVs much more efficient, especially those intended for commercial use.
The automotive industry will be able to develop smaller batteries, which in turn will lead to cheaper, more spacious vehicles.
Vlad's first car was custom coach built: an exotic he made out of wood, cardboard and a borrowed steering wheel at the age of five. Combining his previous experience in writing and car dealership years, his articles focus in depth on special cars of past and present times. Full profile
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