Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (Aspire) an NSF-funded engineering research centre, has announced a joint electrified roadway demonstration project in Utah.
Electreon’s in-motion (dynamic) wireless charging technology will be installed in Aspire’s research test track in North Logan, Utah, in summer 2022 to showcase the company’s technology for the first time in North America. The launch of the testbed comes in advance of Electreon’s first deployment on a public road in the US in 2023 in Detroit – a partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation.
In-road wireless charging
The demonstration will consist of 50 metres of dynamic in-road wireless charging hardware installed in Utah State University’s (USU) test track. Corresponding vehicle side charging hardware will be installed on the Kenworth truck, and power management and charging communication systems will also be included.
The partners aim for the site to function as a live demonstration facility for departments of transportation, other government officials, current and potential industry partners, as well as Electreon’s potential and prospective partners and clients, to experience its wireless charging as the technology moves to market deployment in the US.
Electreon said it will also use this project as a testbed to conduct future vehicle integration programmes with automakers.
This demonstration project collaboration with Aspire, in part, aims to validate dynamic wireless charging technology solutions for several upcoming pilot projects that include the Utah Inland Port Authority (Salt Lake City), the Central Florida Expressway (Orlando, Florida) and developing projects in several states across the nation.
“Aspire is excited to work with Electreon in demonstrating the electrified roadways of tomorrow,” said Regan Zane, centre director, Aspire.
“The groundbreaking work that we are doing here exemplifies our commitment to creating solutions to the issues that are preventing us from electrifying transportation. We believe that our findings will provide the blueprint for the nation’s path to deep electrified vehicle adoption and resulting energy, economic and environmental benefits through low-cost ubiquitous charging infrastructure.”
Electreon and Aspire are also partnering on the demonstration project with Kiewit Corporation, one of the largest engineering and construction companies in North America. Kiewit will provide expert insight into installation and construction processes for electric roads.
“So far, Electreon has already demonstrated its dynamic wireless charging technology in four operational pilots across Europe and now we are thrilled to kick off our first US-based deployment with USU’s Aspire, displaying the viability of our in-road wireless charging infrastructure,” said Stefan Tongur, vice president business development for Electreon in North America.
“We are excited at the prospect of advancing sustainable charging technology in hopes of supporting the US movement toward an all-electric future.”
He continued: “This project will allow us to engage with partners and clients to develop pilot and commercial projects in the whole nation and will allow for ongoing testing in advance of US projects on public roadways, including the recently announced project in Detroit.”
Supporting EV adoption
The Aspire engineering research centre was launched in September 2020 with a $50m, 10-year grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) with its main purpose to support widespread adoption of electric transportation through developing technologies and clearing barriers leading to low-cost, ubiquitous charging infrastructure.
Israeli-based Electreon is a provider of wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), providing end-to-end charging infrastructure and services to meet the needs and efficiency demands of shared, public and commercial fleet operators and consumers.
Source: smartcitiesworld.net
Source: IOT NETWORK NEWS
