Energy harvesting roads turn weird science into commercial applications

The idea of a road that can collect and harvest energy from the vibrations of passing cars, buses, and  trucks sounds like science fiction. Fortunately, energy harvesting is an idea that’s been alive and well in the scientific community. But it has only recently made the pivot into real-world commercial applications.

So, let’s take a look at the most prominent that are working towards making science (fiction) a reality: 

ElectReon (Israel)
ElectReon is an Israeli firm developing an in-road inductive charging system.
How it works:

Its charging solution powers EVs from electrical fields generated by copper coils under the asphalt
A management unit transfers the energy from the electricity grid to the road infrastructure and manages communication with approaching vehicles
Receivers are installed on the vehicles’ floor to transmit the energy directly to battery while driving

The charging coils before covered with asphalt. Image source .
In December, the company launched an E-bus shuttle, charged by Germany’s first wireless electric road system, which powers a bus line between a training center in Karlsruhe and the local public transport system.
The wireless charging lessens the electrical grid connections needed at bus facilities. It also reduces vehicle battery reliance, size, and weight. Not to mention that charging while on the go brings down fleet vehicle downtime and enables extended operational hours.
Elonroad (Sweden)
Elonroad  creates charging infrastructure for all-electric vehicles. It’s both an electric road solution for charging while driving and an automatic park charger without cables. It works in cities, highways, parking spaces, and taxi lines. The 💜 of EU tech The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol’ founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It’s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
When an approved electric vehicle approaches the electric road, charging is started automatically by short-circuiting segments of the rails (1) and making contact with lowered pantographs under the vehicle (2), which charge the vehicle’s batteries (3). When the vehicle leaves the electric road, it goes back to battery operation. Image source .
The company mounts conductive power strips on top of roads. A conductive pick-up under the vehicle connects to the electric rail, creating bus stop charging and in-motion charging for vehicles with access permission through a wireless system. 
Then, the road connects to a server that identifies each vehicle. The energy delivered from each segment is measured, and the energy provider bills the right amount to each customer.
  
Underground Power (Italy)
Energy harvesting speed bumps. Image source .
Underground Power is an Italian company that creates smart speed bumps. Tire-like rubber paving converts the kinetic energy produced by moving vehicles into electric energy. 
This helps cars respect the speed limits and retrieves the kinetic energy wasted during the deceleration.

Story by

Cate Lawrence

Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart ci

(show all)

Cate Lawrence is an Australian tech journo living in Berlin. She focuses on all things mobility: ebikes, autonomous vehicles, VTOL, smart cities, and the future of alternative energy sources like electric batteries, solar, and hydrogen.

Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.

Also tagged with

electric vehicles

charging infrastructure

Published January 17, 2022 – 4:55 pm UTC

Back to top