With Wireless Charging Roads Now in Detroit, Will It Succeed?

• A new type of EV charging is coming to Detroit, and it isn't your typical Electrify America or Tesla Supercharger station.

• With help from the Michigan Department of Transportation and the City of Detroit, Electreon is opening a wireless induction electric charging corridor in the Corktown neighborhood by the end of this year.

• Using magnetism and underground copper coils, 14th Street will now allow for wireless charging of commercial vehicles and for those with the installed (and pricey) receiver.

Metropolitan Detroit is now a showcase example for the alleged future of electric transportation infrastructure, implementing this long-revealed technology for the first time on US soil. What exactly is this technology? Wireless charging roads for electric cars, of course.

With support from Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, Michigan Department of Transportation Director Brad Wieferich, and wireless charging company Electreon, 14th Street between Marantette and Dalzelle streets will now be able to charge electric vehicles wirelessly. This short street is adjacent to the old Michigan Central train station that Ford is restoring as an advanced mobility hub.

But there are some caveats in this technological rise for Detroiters.

For one, the wireless charging technology needs quite a bit of setup before your average EV owner can use it. Based on the inductive coupling installed below the road surface, EV owners must install an Electreon receiver on their car before attempting to wireless charge.

There's a kicker, though. Estimated costs to install the specialized induction receiver start around $3500, though Electreon says it aims to cut installation costs to around $1500 eventually. If buying an EV wasn't expensive enough, adding this receiver may only be worthwhile for a few localized owners, at least for now.

Even so, this wireless charging concept is interesting, and the folks at Electreon have got the plain language explanation down to a science.

"When a vehicle with a receiver nears the in-road charging segments, the road transfers electricity wirelessly through a magnetic field. This electricity is then transferred as energy to the vehicle's battery. These charging segments can transfer wireless electricity to the receiver either when the vehicle is parked or is driving, " the release reads.

Electreon and MDOT have yet to specify just how much energy will be available through this special road, though inductive charging rates are typically akin to plug-in rates. Similarly, it's unclear if this public charging infrastructure will be free for use, though the primary focus of this initial segment is for commercial vehicles like buses and trucks.

Because the technology requires consistent magnetism from the underground coils, Electreon's first US example of the technology will be optimized for resting periods. However, bus stops and red lights were also mentioned as potential expansion locations, according to Car and Driver.

With a momentary demonstrated charging speed of 19 kilowatts, there's potential for consistent battery top-offs along a bus route or commute. But before we get there, Michigan officials and Electreon say this 14th Street corridor will operate as a testing bed for the technology and human behaviors around wireless charging.

"Alongside Michigan's automotive expertise, we'll demonstrate how wireless charging unlocks widespread EV adoption, addressing limited range, grid limitations, battery size, and costs," said Stefan Tongur of Electreon. "This project paves the way for a zero-emission mobility future, where EVs are the norm, not the exception."

As futuristic and potentially revolutionary as wireless charging roads might sound, the technology isn't all that new. Some folks are excited about its entrance into the US market, but it's worth remembering just how far the industry as a whole will have to move to make roadway charging effective.

For one, very few cars come from the factory with inductive charging capabilities. Namely, BMW's 530e was used to test a wireless charging pilot back in 2018, though the program was discontinued. Similarly, Genesis just announced the shuttering of its own wireless charging program after meek adoption results in South Korea, according to Bloter.

Similarly, initial speculation around the technology was centered around a blend of electric vehicles and autonomous driving, indicating a need for human-less charging. However, at this early development stage for the technology, wireless charging will likely remain a localized luxury for some time.

Still, there are a number of aftermarket inductive receiver suppliers eager to open up wireless charging to the masses. Namely, WiTricity is working on receiver kits for models like the Ford E-Transit commercial vehicle, VW ID4, Audi e-Tron, and Porsche Taycan. A preliminary test by the Detroit Free Press indicated that these aftermarket kits do indeed work.

The jury is out when it comes to wireless charging, it seems. While Electreon and other name-brand manufacturers (like Continental) continue to test, operate, and refine the technology in Europe and the Middle East, US consumers arguably lag in interest and understanding of electric vehicle infrastructure.

Time will tell if domestic applications of this technology will take off, though Michigan officials appear fixated on making that a reality. Once work on 14th Street is completed, Electreon and MDOT will move over to the more heavily traveled Michigan Avenue and begin installing additional inductive charging.

Does plugging in an electric car bother you? Would you prefer a home plug-in charger or a home inductive charger? Please share your thoughts below.