US roadway charges electric truck at 65 mph using wireless coils

Engineers at Purdue University have successfully demonstrated a dynamic wireless power transfer system that charges a heavy-duty electric truck traveling at highway speeds. Conducted on a quarter-mile section of US Highway 52/231 in West Lafayette, Indiana, the trial involved a modified Cummins Class 8 electric semitractor drawing 190 kilowatts of power while moving at 65 mph. This wireless charging system uses transmitter coils embedded beneath the concrete pavement and receiver coils mounted under the truck, enabling real-time power transfer through the road surface. The power level achieved is unprecedented in the US, especially for heavy-duty trucks that require significantly more energy than lighter vehicles or existing wireless charging pads. The technology addresses key challenges such as transferring high power across relatively large distances through concrete to a moving, heavy vehicle. Purdue researchers emphasize the engineering precision required for this feat, noting it surpasses the power levels typical for consumer electronics by thousands of times. Cummins, which supplied the electric truck, praised the system’s high power and