Central Florida will become the first place in the world to have a highway section with in-road charging. This technology will allow EVs to recharge their batteries as they drive along SR 516 in Lake County and Orange County.
World’s First New Highway Designed for In-Road Charging
This pilot project, initiated by the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CEA), is considered a symbol of a road-building shift towards environmental consciousness and driver convenience.
Sergio Perez of ENRX, a Norwegian wireless energy company hired by CEA, emphasizes that the system on SR 516 “will be the most powerful in the world.”
While the entire SR 516 spans 125 miles, the operational in-road charging section will cover just over 4 miles.
The highway connects the busy areas of Lake County and Orange County with an east-west alignment, linking a growing suburb along US Highway 27 in Lake County to Orlando’s expressway beltway on State Road 42 in Orange County.
This project is also expected to stimulate the local economy by establishing a new jobs center.
How In-Road Induction Charging Works
The ENRX Charge 200 kW Electrified Roadway Technology uses wireless inductive power transfer to charge various types of EVs, from small sedans to long-haul trucks, while they drive at highway speeds.
The technology can detect an EV directly above it, leaving the lane safe for other vehicles. Embedded coils of wire in the pavement emit electromagnetic energy, which is then picked up by receiver plates installed on the underbodies of EVs, transferring the energy to their batteries.
The system can deliver different charging power levels based on the vehicle type, with strengths up to 200 kilowatts. Sedans will receive around 50 kW, while heavy trucks will receive up to 200 kW.
This dynamic charging allows EVs to recharge on the go and offsets energy consumption during motion. The project will incorporate solar panels to generate the nearly 1 megawatt of electricity required to operate the road.
Future of Zero-Emission Mobility
ENRX envisions wireless in-road charging as a potential path towards zero-emission mobility. By charging vehicles while in motion, it eliminates the need to stop at charging stations, enables intermodal e-mobility models, and may even help reduce battery size and capacity.
A white paper in IEEE Explore examines how wireless charging could significantly increase EV adoption rates due to improved convenience and user experience for drivers. This increased demand is expected to encourage further investment in wireless EV charging infrastructure.
Furthermore, the strategic placement of wireless charging lanes in new, smart cities and communities can optimize charging demand coverage while minimizing the costs associated with road transformation. Integrating wireless charging into scheduled road maintenance activities can also help reduce implementation costs.