How pilot projects are testing high power dynamic EV charging roads

The article discusses the development and testing of high-power dynamic wireless charging systems for electric vehicles (EVs), which aim to reduce dependence on stationary charging by embedding power transfer infrastructure directly into roads. These systems use resonant inductive coupling, where buried transmitter coils in the road generate high-frequency magnetic fields (around 85 kHz) that transfer energy to receiver coils under moving vehicles. While static wireless charging pads can achieve efficiencies above 95%, dynamic charging efficiencies are lower (approximately 70-80%) due to factors like coil misalignment and air gaps. Despite these challenges, pilot projects have demonstrated in-motion power transfer rates exceeding 200 kW, sufficient to support entire EV fleets and enable extended driving ranges limited only by road coverage. The article also highlights the technical and environmental challenges of dynamic charging. High currents in the coils produce stray electromagnetic fields that can interfere with communications and cause heating issues, such as road surface temperatures exceeding 100°C observed in French tests. However, some manufacturers, like Stell