Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer recently announced a contract to build a public wireless in-road charging system for electric vehicles (EVs).
The state selected Electreon to build an electric road system in Detroit as part of the inductive vehicle charging pilot program, according to a news release.
"As we aim to lead the future of mobility and electrification by boosting electric vehicle production and lowering consumer costs, a wireless in-road charging system is the next piece to the puzzle for sustainability," Gov. Whitmer said in a statement.
Electreon will lead the design, evaluation, iteration, testing, and implementation of the pilot program, which aims to be operational as of 2023, working with NextEnergy and Jacobs Engineering Group. The project is currently slated for up to a 1-mile stretch of both dynamic and stationary wireless EV charging in Detroit. The project will be hosted by and live within Michigan Central, a mobility innovation district, and supported by partners like Ford Motor Co., DTE Energy, and the city of Detroit.
"Michigan is aggressively rolling out various charging solutions and we need to continue to stay ahead of the technology curve," State Transportation Director Paul C. Ajegba said in a statement. "A wireless in-road charging system will be revolutionary for electric vehicles, potentially extending their charge without having to stop."
The Michigan Department of Transportation will provide $1.9 million in funding toward the pilot project, with Electreon contributing the remainder. The governor's office says that electrified roadways can accelerate EV adoption and can turn public streets into sustainable shared-energy platforms.
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SOURCE: Office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
