Detroit Street Electrified
Officials say quarter-mile section is first in the country to charge EVs as they pass over.
Detroit street section is equipped with inductive charging coils installed below the road surface that charge EVs fitted with receivers as they pass over.
IMAGE: City of Detroit
A quarter-mile section of a Detroit street now charges electric vehicles that pass over it in what’s said to be the first such charging roadway in the U.S.
The section of 14th Street in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood has been electrified via inductive charging in a partnership between the city and the Michigan Department of Transportation.
Roads have been outfitted with charging capabilit in parts of Asia, and at least one is planned in Europe, where Sweden is mapping out an charging-road system.
Israel-based Electreon was awarded the contract to electrify a combined mile of Detroit streets, a quarter of which is has been finished. The city and the MDOT opened the section on Wednesday, calling it a “milestone in the future of mobility.”
Via a magnetic field, inductive-charging coils under the street power up EVs carrying Electreon receivers, the entities said in a press release. The technology works either when the vehicle is in motion or parked. They’ll observe how the project works in order to test and perfect the technology before extending it to a broader system of streets.
Electreon Vice President of Business Development Stefan Tongur said the project can help increase EV adoption, which has been slow to take off among the general consumer population in the U.S., partly due to limited charging infrastructure and especially in less urban areas.
“… we'll demonstrate how wireless charging unlocks widespread EV adoption, addressing limited range, grid limitations, and battery size and costs. This project paves the way for a zero-emission mobility future, where EVs are the norm, not the exception."
Originally posted on Auto Dealer Today
More Showroom
New-Vehicle Prices Stay Put
Affordability pressures and model availability shaped new-vehicle sales in September, according to an analysis by Kelley Blue Book.
Read More →
EV Buyer Consideration Shifts
What drives American consumers to purchase an electric vehicle is shifting as the question moves away from Should I?' to 'Which features and experience do I want to have?'
Read More →
Year-to-Date Auto Sales Holding Their Own
A forecast through August shows that automakers have shifted strategies to keep deliveries and revenues up despite tariffs and other economic challenges.
Read More →
Slow to Robo
Ten years of polling consumers shows autonomous vehicles’ profiles have risen considerably, but even more people now want at least some level of control if they go that route.
Read More →
Dealers a Little Down
A third-quarter Cox Automotive survey finds them in a mixed mood, bummed by fallen customer traffic but encouraged by better profits, costs and EV interest.
Read More →
European EV Sales Skyrocket
The EV market on the continent held strong in July with almost 25% of new-car sales being fully electric units, a stark contrast to the U.S., where EV sales declined about 42%.
Read More →
Mitsubishi Unveils U.S. Plan
The automaker announced a strategy that includes an expanded lineup and dealership presence, along with more ‘rugged’ and electric models.
Read More →
Used Lots Getting the Business
Many consumers are seeking out the units to save money, and the demand – higher in July than normal – is keeping supply limited and prices up.
Read More →
Used Market Stabilizes
The Carfax Used Car Index noted a major drop in used-vehicle price increases in July after several months of hikes.
Read More →
California Hybrids Reach State Record
The Golden State still leads the country in electric-vehicle registrations, but much like the rest of the U.S. its hybrid market share is up while full electrics stabilize after a dramatic first-quarter dip.
Read More →