EV-Charging Roads

A potentially game-changing development in electric charging is roads that can directly charge electric vehicles (EVs). Multiple pilots have been operating in Sweden for a few years. In 2022, the Michigan Department of Transportation entered a five-year agreement with the company Electreon to pilot a one-mile-long wireless in-road EV charging system in Detroit, which will allow EVs to charge while driving or idling. The first quarter-mile of the road was completed in November 2023.

Electric charging roads could encourage more drivers to switch to EV cars by combating major barriers associated with worries about not finding charging stations while on the road. Planners should stay aware of developments in these approaches to consider when updating infrastructure in their communities for better EV charging accessibility.