State officials say Detroit is getting the nation's first wireless system to charge electric vehicles on the road. Officials hope the one-mile-long pilot project will showcase the technology.
Wireless EV charging uses coils in the road to create an electromagnetic field. The electricity is transferred to the car's battery via a special receiver.
Sam Abuelsamid is an expert on EV technology with Guidehouse Insights. He sees some practical uses for wireless charging for stationary vehicles, like electric buses making long stops. But not as many for moving ones.
"Building this stuff into roadways is going to add a substantial amount of cost to the road infrastructure. And we have a hard enough time paying for just normal pavement."
A nearly two million dollar grant from The Michigan Department of Transportation is helping to fund the project.
