Long waits to charge your electric vehicle or truck may soon be a thing of the past, as researchers at Utah State University are developing roadway technology that can charge vehicles while they drive.
The university’s ASPIRE Engineering Research Center is testing multiple approaches at their dedicated testing track, including systems that delivery energy to vehicles as they move, according to reporting from KSL-TV.
One method uses electric magnets embedded in the roadway to provide periodic bursts of energy — about every quarter mile — helping propel vehicles forward. Another design involves rubber transmitter pads installed roughly six inches beneath the asphalt, wirelessly charging any compatible electric vehicle traveling above.
Researchers say electrifying roadways are no more complex than installing underground utilities, suggest the technology’s scalability on public roadways.
From Test Track to Real-World Deployment
Beyond the lab, a fully electrified road is already being tested at the Utah Inland Port in Salt Lake City. A quarter-mile stretch at the port’s west entrance can charge vehicles and trucks as they move.
The research team is also developing a high-powered wireless charging dock — one of the largest in the world — that can charge an electric semi-truck in about 30 minutes without plugging in.
Officials say the system will roll out more broadly at the port later this year, with potential expansion to public roadways in the next 10 to 20 years.
Michigan Expands Wireless Charging Roads
Michigan has already taken a step forward with the nation’s first public wireless charging roadway.
In 2023, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) partnered with Electreon to install inductive charging coils along a quarter-mile stretch of 14th Street in Detroit’s Michigan Central innovation district.
The system was tested throughout 2024 using a Ford EV Transit shuttle to gather data and evaluate performance, according to an MDOT press release.
A second project — expected as early as this year or by 2027 — will expand the technology to a three-quarter-mile segment of Michigan Avenue in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE).
As research and pilot projects continue, wireless charging roads are gaining traction as a potential solution to charging delays. While widespread adoption may still be years away, early deployments suggest the technology could play a major role in the future of electric transportation.
Sources: KSL-TV, MDOT, ASCE
