Pure electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and fuel cell electric vehicles, are already playing an increasing role in the way we travel. But electric vehicles face a significant challenge: “range anxiety”, meaning that potential owners worry about the lack of sufficient power, and the inability to travel long distances.
One solution to this problem could be, of course, installing more charging stations; the UK, for instance, as part of its Road Investment strategy, is committed in the long-term to installing plug-in charging points every 20 miles on the motorway network. But Highways England and the British Government have announced on Tuesday that they’ll test a more futuristic approach as well.
Later this year, following the completion of an ongoing procurement process, they’ll start trialling (off road) a new technology called Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) which would allow drivers to wirelessly charge their electric vehicles while the on the move. The trials will involve fitting vehicles with wireless technology and testing a special equipment, installed underneath the road, to replicate motorway conditions.
“The off road trials of wireless power technology will help to create a more sustainable road network for England and open up new opportunities for businesses that transport goods across the country,” Highways England Chief Highways Engineer Mike Wilson said in a statement.
Over the next five years, the UK Government will allocate £500 million ($781 million) to fund the research in this field, as part of its strategy to boost the number of low carbon vehicles circulating. In 2013, 25% of all CO2 emissions in the UK originated from transport. Since the UK government committed itself to reducing CO2 emissions by 80% by 2050, exploring new options, like wireless vehicle charging, does seem to make sense.
Read more of the original article in Forbes.com.
