Out-Law / Your Daily Need-To-Know

Off-road testing of electric car wireless charging given go ahead

17 Aug 2015, 3:55 pm

Technology that would allow electric cars to charge whilst on the move is to be tested in England later this year.

Highways England said the off road trials "will test how the technology would work safely and effectively on the country’s motorways and major A roads". The trials are expected to last 18 months and will begin once a testing partner has been selected from the "ongoing procurement process", it said. Road trials of the technology could then follow, it said.

The trials will involve testing a particular type of 'dynamic wireless power transfer’ (DWPT) technology which involves delivering power to vehicles connected with wireless technology from charging systems deployed under road surfaces, Highways England said.

The use of DWPT technologies have already been explored in a feasibility study commissioned by Highways England.

Mike Wilson, chief highways engineer at Highways England, said: "Vehicle technologies are advancing at an ever increasing pace and we’re committed to supporting the growth of ultra-low emissions vehicles on our England’s motorways and major A roads. The off road trials of wireless power technology will help to create a more sustainable road network for England and open up new opportunities for businesses that transport goods across the country."

The initiative is a further example of the potential of 'connected car' technologies, with the term inclusive of moves to develop 'driverless', or autonomous, vehicles. In the UK the government has developed a code of practice to facilitate the testing of driverless cars, but also encourages companies to use the UK as a base for testing other autonomous vehicles off the road in other public areas.

A number of businesses have taken steps to develop new autonomous vehicles, with German media reporting earlier this summer on plans by Daimler to test 'driverless' trucks on public roads in Germany before the end of this year.

Vehicle manufacturers face competition from technology giants such as Apple and Google in developing connected and/or autonomous vehicles. The Guardian reported last week that documents it had seen confirm Apple's interest in developing and testing a new driverless car.