PONTIAC, Mich. — Tuesday, at the opening ceremony for Motor Bella, the outdoor event serving as a placeholder for the Detroit Auto Show, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan would be the first state to deploy wireless electric vehicle charging on the road. This would allow EVs to charge while driving, without having to stop to plug in at a charging station.
Whitmer said the state is looking for partners to help develop and deploy the technology. According to a press release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the Inductive Vehicle Charging Pilot will cover a one-mile stretch of road in either Wayne, Oakland or Macomb county. The Michigan Department of Transportation will release a Request for Proposal on September 28 to design, fund and implement the test road.
"Michigan was home to the first mile of paved road, and now we’re paving the way for the roads of tomorrow with innovative infrastructure the will support the economy and the environment, helping us achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Whitmer. "This project reinforces my commitment to accelerating the deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure in Michigan and will create new opportunities for businesses and high-tech jobs amidst the transition to electric vehicles."
Despite the claim that Michigan would be the first to deploy such technology, the Indiana Department of Transportation announced earlier this summer that it would be working with Purdue and with German firm Magment to test in-road wireless charging. Magment’s technology uses a concrete medium filled with magnetic particles to wirelessly transmit energy to electric vehicles on the move.
Utah State University is also working on in-road wireless charging, with induction coils in the pavement transmitting energy to coils in equipped electric vehicles.
In-road wireless charging could help solve problems with range anxiety, as well as the headache of finding a working DC fast charger.
We’re curious to see what Michigan’s program will entail, and we’ll update you when we know more about the initiative.
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