Recharging on the road
In efforts to overcome the two main concerns for people considering an electric car (range limitations and charging times) several car manufacturers have started to research dynamic wireless recharging.
This technology would enable vehicles to charge while they’re moving over specially designed roads. The system consists of coils connected to electric cables embedded in the ground. The coils would generate an electromagnetic field, and as cars drive over them, a corresponding field would be induced in the car and converted into electricity.
This technology was demonstrated at a 100-metre test track earlier this year. Qualcomm Technologies and Vedecom installed the primary part of the dynamic charging system in a test track, while Vedecom and renault installed the secondary part into two renault Kangoos ZES. The vehicles were able to charge up to 20 kilowatts while travelling over 100 kilometres per hour.