According to Construction Dive website in December 2023, a wireless charging road had been recently showcased in the Transportation Innovation Zone of Detroit Central Station, which aims to allow electric vehicles traveling or being parked along the road to get charged without the need of plugging in a power source.
The quarter mile electric highway currently on display was designed by Electron, who received a $1.9 million contract from the Michigan Department of Transportation in early 2022 to develop a wireless charging highway. The wireless charging road is expected to be open to the public in the coming years. After completion, it will be one mile long.
Bradley Wieferich, Director of the Michigan Department of Transportation, stated in a statement that road charging technology "may be a catalyst for accelerating the interest and acceptance of electric vehicles among all consumers.".
Electron is also researching similar roads in France, Sweden, Germany, Norway, and Italy. This technology can alleviate "mileage anxiety" - concerns that electric vehicle batteries may run out of battery before reaching the charging station.
