eRoadArlanda: Sweden claims to have built an electrified road, who is the first in the world to be able to charge vehicles as they travel. New technology could potentially help reduce the high cost of electric cars, according to a statement from the Vattenfall and Elways companies that have taken over the project at Reuters.
Το project που χρηματοδοτείται από το κράτος, ονομάζεται eRoadArlanda και κοστίζει περίπου 50 εκατομμύρια κορώνες (5.82 εκατομμύρια δολάρια), χρησιμοποιεί ένα τροποποιημένο ηλεκτρικό truck which he does transportation from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to the nearby Postnord Logistics hub to test the technology.
An electrified rail embedded in the tarmac of the 2km long road automatically charges the truck as it travels. A movable arm attached to the vehicle recognizes the position of the rail on the road and charging stops when the vehicle passes the rail or stops.
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.
Electric roads will enable smaller batteries and make electric cars even cheaper than fossil-fueled ones fuel.
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.
"Αυτοί οι δρόμοι θα επιτρέψουν στα ηλεκτρικά οχήματα να μετακινούνται σε μεγάλες αποστάσεις χωρίς μεγάλες, δαπανηρές και βαριές μπαταρίες", δήλωσε ο Markus Fischer, εκπρόσωπος της Vattenfall, προσθέτοντας ότι η τοποθέτηση του απαραίτητου βραχίονα στα νέα αυτοκίνητα θα ήταν φθηνότερη από τη μετασκευή των σημερινών μοντέλων.
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.
