eRoadArlanda: Sweden claims to have built an electrified road, which is the first in the world to be able to charge vehicles while driving. The new technology could potentially help reduce the high cost of electric cars, according to a statement from Vattenfall and Elways, which have undertaken the project on Reuters.
The state-funded project, called eRoadArlanda, costs about 50 million kroner ($5.82 million). uses a modified one electric truck making 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 with degree patent the specific technology. The tests of eRoadArlanda started in April and will last for at least 12 months in order to test the electric vehicle in different weather conditions.