Electric roads: charging while moving and the cost questions they raise
Electric vehicles still face charging challenges, and in Germany a university team has explored a novel approach to ease those limits. Researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg propose a system where a road surface itself becomes a wireless charger, supplying energy to vehicles as they travel along an electrified stretch. In their view, drivers would no longer need to hunt for a charging station or worry about a depleted battery; the road would continuously replenish the vehicle’s power while in motion or at a stop on the charged lane.
Germany has begun a pilot project in Bavaria, funded with about 8 million euros, to test this concept on a one-kilometer section of motorway in northern Bavaria. The surface of the road is fitted with induction coils that sit beneath the asphalt. As a vehicle drives or remains stationary over this segment, power is transferred to the onboard battery, mirroring how a wireless charging pad fills a smartphone when it sits on the pad. This setup aims to support both commercial fleets and private cars, offering a practical path toward reducing downtime for charging during daily use.
Despite the theoretical appeal, questions quickly surface. How much would one kilometer of such road cost to install and maintain? The charging rate is slower than plugging in a conventional charger, so a single kilometer cannot meet all energy needs. Vehicles would likely require much longer electrified routes to gain meaningful range. In addition to the initial installation expense, the specialized road coating and embedded coils face wear and tear from traffic, weather, and road maintenance. Replacing or upgrading the smart layer represents a significant ongoing cost. These financial realities mean the technology may not be a universal solution in the near term.
Observers recognize that while electrified roads could become a valuable component of a broader charging ecosystem, they also anticipate ongoing innovation and cost reduction. Engineers and policymakers may pursue a mix of approaches, combining fast on-board charging, battery improvements, and smarter energy management to create a reliable, affordable network. In the meantime, the Bavarian trial serves as a practical test bed for evaluating performance, reliability, and lifecycle economics on real traffic conditions. The research team emphasizes that the concept is not a complete replacement for existing charging methods, but rather an integrated option that could complement future mobility networks.
A credible source for this development is automedienportal.net, with visual context provided by Unsplash and the Autoren-Union Mobilität in collaboration with Electreon [citation: automedienportal.net].
Vote – win a car model!
Readers are invited to participate in a contemporary automotive poll to help identify standout vehicle introductions of the year. Engaging in the survey offers a chance to influence coverage of emerging car technologies and new models.
As thanks for time spent, a small drawing will be conducted among survey participants. Those who complete the questionnaire by the stated deadline have a chance of winning, though specific terms apply. The event encourages broad community feedback on what matters most in the evolving landscape of mobility.