Detroit, in collaboration with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and wireless charging provider Electreon, has inaugurated the nation’s inaugural wireless charging public roadway in the city’s Corktown neighborhood.
The pilot project features inductive-charging copper coils installed beneath the road’s surface, designed to charge electric vehicles (EVs) equipped with Electreon receivers as they travel over the road. This innovative technology involves transferring electricity wirelessly through a magnetic field, effectively charging the EV’s battery during transit.
The quarter-mile wireless charging roadway, situated on 14th Street between Marantette and Dalzelle streets in Corktown, is currently in the pilot phase. A Ford E-Transit equipped with an Electreon receiver is being utilized for testing and refining the wireless charging technology in a real-world setting. The intention is to make the technology available to the public within the next few years.
Under a five-year commitment, MDOT and Electreon plan to further develop and pilot the electric road system on Michigan roads. The chosen site for the pilot, adjacent to the Newlab at Michigan Central Building, will facilitate additional testing and development of the wireless charging technology starting in early 2024.
As part of the project, Electreon has installed two static inductive charging stations in front of the Michigan Central Station. These stations will allow Electreon-equipped vehicles to charge while parked. MDOT is set to seek bids in 2024 to rebuild part of Michigan Avenue (US-12) and will incorporate additional inductive charging as part of the initiative.
