UK TO TRIAL ROADS THAT CAN CHARGE CARS AS THEY MOVE

18-Month Scheme Will Test Charging Lanes For Electric Vehicles, But Will New Battery Technologies Make This An Excercise in Futlilty?

Highways England in the UK, is set to embark on an ambitious 18-month trial to test out technology that uses electromagnetic fields to charge electric vehicles as they move along them. During the trials, vehicles will be equipped with wireless technology and electric cables will be installed underneath roads that are set up to resemble highways. The infrastructure buried under the surface of the roads will generate electromagnetic fields, which will be gathered by a coil inside the vehicle and converted into electricity. The ultimate goal is to work out whether this type of technology is a reliable and sustainable way to power vehicles in the future, and particularly if it is applicable over long distances. Dutch-based Studio Roosegaarde, creator of the world’s first glow-in-the-dark road, has proposed a similar induction charging scheme as part of its Smart Highway concept.

Highways England is optimistic about the outcome of these trials, Mike Wilson chief highways engineer at the agency, said “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.” However, the scheme has its detractors, Dr Paul Nieuwenhuis, the director of Cardiff Business School’s Electric Vehicle Centre of Excellence, revealed his concerns to the BBC, he said, “it sounds very ambitious to me. Cost will be the biggest issue and I’m not totally convinced it’s worth it.” He underlined how improvements in battery technology may mean there will never be a need for electrified roads.