Electreon
The section is 1.5 kilometers long and can carry a 40-ton electric truck. The road’s durability is equivalent to a traditional road and there are already several similar projects in other countries.
France inaugurated the first section of public highway in the world capable of wirelessly charging electric vehicles while driving, marking a milestone in the effort to decarbonize transport.
The 1.5 kilometer pilot section on the A10 motorway, around 40 kilometers from Paris, is part of the “Charge as you drive” project, which uses wireless dynamic induction to transfer energy from the road to vehicles in motion.
Developed by the company Electreon, the system can provide continuous power above 200 kilowatts and peaks above 300 kW, according to preliminary measurements. This power is up to six times greater than that of a Tesla Supercharger and enough to boost and charging a 40 ton electric truck simultaneously.
Technology can transform the way freight and passenger transport operates. Conventional batteries for trucks They are huge, expensive and heavyreducing load capacity and efficiency. Furthermore, recharging them quickly requires megawatt chargers and upgrades to the electrical grid that will take years to complete, says the .
Wireless charging roads promise a different model. By continually transferring small amounts of energy as vehicles move, trucks could use batteries that are 50% to 80% smaller than current models, reducing costs and the need for materials. The system is only activated when a vehicle equipped with special receiver plates passes over the road, making it safe for other vehicles and wildlife.
“This is a crucial moment in global development of electric roads,” said Oren Ezer, CEO of Electreon. “These results pave the way for the deployment of thousands of kilometers of wireless roads using our technology in France and, subsequently, across Europe.”
The A10 project is the result of two years of testing and validation carried out by French engineers to ensure the materials would withstand regular traffic. Authorities say the road’s durability should be equivalent to that of a conventional highway.
Despite the enthusiasm, there are still challenges. Large-scale deployment will require considerable investments in infrastructure electrical wiring and sophisticated metering systems to charge drivers for electricity consumed over long distances.
France is not alone in exploring electric motorways. Germany plans to start construction of a one-kilometer section with inductive charging along the A6, near Bavaria, while Italy, the United States, China, South Korea and Israel already have pilot programs underway.
