Indiana Tests Futuristic Highway that Can Charge EVs While Driving

Purdue University and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) are pioneering a project that could transform electric vehicle (EV) charging by equipping a highway segment with technology for wirelessly charging vehicles while they're driving.

This bold initiative tackles a major barrier to EV adoption: range anxiety—the fear that an EV won't have enough charge to complete a journey.

“If you can have ubiquitous charging you really reduce the cost of electric vehicles because you reduce the battery size,” Steve Pekarek, a lead researcher at Purdue, told FreightWaves. “You reduce the range anxiety so that the adoption rate will likely increase. That’s kind of the overall vision.”

Similar to wireless phone chargers but on a larger scale, this technology involves embedding coils in the highway that transfer energy directly to corresponding coils under the vehicles, even as they move at regular highway speeds. The project is currently in the testing phase on a quarter-mile stretch of U.S. 231 near West Lafayette, where engineers have begun installing the necessary infrastructure.

Despite its promising benefits, the technology presents significant challenges, requiring major investment in infrastructure, potential vehicle modifications, and coordination across multiple states for widespread adoption.

The future of EV trucks

The trucking industry has been at odds with the Biden Administration since the White House placed tougher-than-expected emission standards for heavy-duty trucks. The American Trucking Association (ATA) has argued that the new rules aren't ready for widespread adoption and will carry real consequences for the U.S. supply chain and movement of freight throughout the economy.

“Although battery-electric trucks show promise in certain applications, they are not ready for broad deployment due to technology limitations.”

— Taki Darakos, Pitt Ohio Fleet Manager

“Although battery-electric trucks show promise in certain applications, they are not ready for broad deployment due to technology limitations,” said Taki Darakos, Fleet Manager at Pitt Ohio.

However, the ability to charge an electric truck without needing to stop could be a game-changer as fleet operators look for cost-effective solutions to reduce fuel expenses and meet emission targets.

If successful, this initiative not only paves the way for more sustainable road transport but could position Indiana as a leader in innovative transportation solutions. Indiana Motor Truck Association President and CEO Gary Langston is optimistic about the experiment.

“This is the only possible solution that I’ve ever heard that could come close to working for the people I represent. It’s not that we don’t want to do it. If someone came up with a viable solution that we could afford, we’re not pushing back on that.”

Electric vehicle range and costs are hurdles to widespread adoption of the technology, notes Pekarek. This research could address both hurdles by maintaining a truck’s charge while it drives, leading to smaller batteries and a lower cost. The researcher compared the technology to wirelessly charging a cellphone.

“We have to find all the things that don’t work and get them out of the way to find what does,” Langston said. “This project is either going to once and for all determine if this is possible and if so, when. And at what cost?”

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