France has activated a pioneering section of highway that wirelessly recharges electric vehicles in motion, a strategic move to decarbonize heavy commercial transport.
This 1.5-kilometer (approximately 0.93-mile) stretch on the A10 highway, located about 40 kilometers (approximately 25 miles) from Paris, is the country’s first. It marks a significant step towards developing Electric Road Systems (ERS).
Developed by Electreon, the system uses dynamic induction technology. Copper emitter cells buried about 10 centimeters (approximately 4 inches) beneath the road surface generate a magnetic field.
This field wirelessly transfers energy to passing vehicles without the need for cables or physical contact. The system can transmit up to 300 kilowatts (kW) of power, averaging 200 kW under real-world conditions.
Project officials state that a light electric car could gain two to three kilometers (approximately 1.2 to 1.9 miles) of range for every kilometer driven on the section. Heavy trucks are projected to recover about one kilometer (approximately 0.6 miles) of range per kilometer traveled.
The primary goal is to provide a viable charging alternative for heavy road transport. This allows for the design of electric trucks with smaller, lighter, and more cost-effective batteries. It addresses current limitations of massive battery requirements for long-distance hauls.
The technology follows two years of laboratory and closed-track testing. Visually, the charging section is nearly indistinguishable from the rest of the highway, except for renewed pavement and a test zone sign.
For the current highway trials, four prototype vehicles were adapted: a modified Toyota bZ4X, a utility vehicle, a bus, and a DAF XF truck. Each vehicle is equipped with an 80 by 130-centimeter (approximately 31.5 by 51.2-inch) receiver plate weighing about 40 kilograms (approximately 88 pounds) installed beneath its chassis.
Despite its potential, the system faces challenges, including an estimated energy loss of 15% to 20% during transmission. Furthermore, large-scale implementation would require substantial investment in both infrastructure and vehicle adaptation.
For now, developers are focusing on niche applications, such as heavy commercial transport, where the economic benefits are more immediate.
France is actively pursuing the decarbonization of its road transport sector. In June 2023, Electreon secured a contract to install its wireless ERS technology as part of a broader government initiative.
A French government study concluded that ERS could reduce CO2 emissions from road freight transport by 86% compared to diesel. The national plan aims to implement Electric Road Systems across nearly 5,000 kilometers (approximately 3,100 miles) by 2030 and almost 9,000 kilometers (approximately 5,600 miles) by 2035. This contributes to achieving net zero road emissions.
Electreon is also involved in similar projects in other countries, including Germany.