UK motorways could soon have an in-road EV charging lane

Equipment installed beneath the road surface could soon be wirelessly charging EV vehicles as they travel along UK motorways.

The search continues for the most effective infrastructure for recharging EV vehicles. Already we have seen recharging robots, retrofitted lampposts and solar-powered recharging parking spaces. Now, equipment installed beneath the road surface could soon be wirelessly charging EV vehicles while in motion on UK roads, diminishing the need for drivers to stop and charge their batteries.

Highways England — a government funded department — will be testing the technology off-road on test tracks, with the goal of increasing the battery range of electric and hybrid vehicles. Wireless equipment will be fitted beneath the test-road surface and into the vehicles when extensive trials begin later this year. If successful, the technology could be fitted on the UK’s motorways and major A roads, enabling drivers to travel long distances in their low emission vehicles without needing to stop and recharge.

Similar technology has previously been used to power a fleet of electric buses in Korea. What’s next for EV charging?