eRoadArlanda: Sweden claims to have built an electrified road, who is the first in the world to be able to charges vehicles as they move. The new technology could potentially help reduce the high cost of electric cars, Vattenfall and Elways, the companies behind the project, told Reuters in a statement.
The state-funded project is called eRoadArlanda and costs around 50 millions crowns ($5.82 million), uses a modified electric truck which makes transfers from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the nearby Postnord Logistics hub to test the technology.
An electric rail that is built into the road asphalt of the length of 2 km, automatically charges the truck as it travels. A movable arm connected to the vehicle recognizes the position of the track on the road and stops charging when the vehicle overtake the tracks or stop.
CEO Elways, Gunnar Asplund, said charging while driving practically means that electric cars will no longer need large batteries, which cost almost half the money to buy an electric car.
The electrified roads will allow for smaller batteries and will make electric cars even cheaper than fossil fuels.
Mr. Asplund said the Swedish state, which funds the project, was pleased with the results so far, the only issue which seems to have already solved the dirt gathered in the charging rail.
"These roads will allow electric vehicles to travel long distances without large, expensive and heavy batteries," said Markus Fischer, a spokesman for Vattenfall, adding that installing the necessary arm in new cars would be cheaper than rebuilding today. models.
Elways has patented this technology. The eRoadArlanda tests started in April and will last for at least 12 months in order to test the electric vehicle under different weather conditions.
