The Michigan Transportation Department and city of Detroit on Wednesday opened the segment on 14th Street between Marantette and Dalzelle streets near Michigan Central Station, where Ford Motor Co. is building an electric- and autonomous-vehicle campus. The road is equipped with inductive-charging coils from Israel-based Electreon Wireless Ltd. to test the technology’s efficiency and potential for public transportation opportunities. Only EVs equipped with a special receiver can be charged from it.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in September 2021 announced a pilot initiative to develop the nation’s first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road in Michigan. MDOT and Electreon have a five-year agreement to develop an electric-road system to test the technology in the state, including 1 mile in Corktown.
The electric road is safe for drivers, pedestrians and wildlife, according to the project leaders. There are two Electreon static inductive charging stations in front of the Michigan Central Building, which is different from the former train station. The stations can charge parked EVs equipped with receivers.
I don’t know the stretch of road or have an EV, but my first thought would be sitting at long traffic lights. It may not extend your range, but it might offset a little over regular usage.
My second would be proof of concept. Does this work without impact at a small scale before trying it down a highway.