AUTONEWS

US state will have wireless road charging system

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced plans to build the US's first under-road electric vehicle charging system. The first section of the road, just 1.6 km long, will be operational in 2023.

“We will lead the future of transportation and electrification by increasing electric vehicle production and lowering consumer prices, and the wireless road charging system will be the next piece of the environmental puzzle,” said Governor Whitmer of the project. A system that supports dynamic and stationary charging of electric vehicles will appear on a short stretch of road just 1.6 km away near Detroit.

The pilot project will be led by Israeli startup Electreon, which will provide the development, testing and implementation of the system – the company won the competition announced in September 2021. NextEnergy and Jacobs Engineering Group, with assistance from Ford, DTE Energy and Detroit City Hall , will also be directly involved in the project. The Michigan Department of Transportation will provide $1.9 million and Electreon will handle the rest of the costs – the startup will likely have a chance to win a sizeable contract if the pilot project is recognized as a success.

Image source: electreon.com