UK Is Testing Roads That Charge Electric Cars As They Drive

UK Is Testing Roads That Charge Electric Cars As They Drive

 

Imagine never having to pull over to fuel your car. This is exactly what

 Highways England is planning to implement for drivers of electric vehicles. 

Automobiles would be fitted with wireless technology and then driven on

 roads with special electromagnetic field generating equipment buried underneath. 

Trials will run for 18 months before a decision is made to move the project 

to public roads. This is not the first time such technology sees the light of day: in 2013, 

the South Korean town of Gumi switched on a 12km (7.5 miles) route that allows

 special buses to be charged with similar technology.

 

“Vehicle technologies are advancing at an ever 

increasing pace and we’re committed to supporting

 the growth of ultra-low emissions vehicles on England’s 

motorways and major A roads,” wrote Highways England

 chief highways engineer, Mike Wilson. “The off-road trials

 of wireless power technology will help to create a more

 sustainable road network for England and open up new

 opportunities for businesses that transport 

goods across the country.”

 

Highways England plans to test this technology over 18 months before a 

decision is made to move the project to public roads

 

Electric cables are buried under the road to generate electromagnetic 

fields which are caught by a coil inside the vehicle and 

converted into electricity

 

The government is already committing £500 million over the next five

 years to keep Britain at the forefront of this technology