Chevrolet Volt electric car (Photo : Reuters)
Highways England, a United Kingdom (U.K.) government agency, announced this week that it will start off-road trials to test new electric car technology that uses roads to power up the batteries of e-cars and hybrids, thus eliminating the need for charging stations. The wireless charging system, a brand new tech, would be located underground on the European nation's major motorways.
Based on the announcement, the trials will start later this year. They will determine how safe and effective the new e-car tech is.
Highways England has already finished a feasibility study for the new underground charging system. Its main objective is to eliminate the need for drivers to stop their vehicles to charge the battery, such as at charging stations along freeways.
Andrew Jones is the U.K. Transport Minister. He shared that the mobile charging innovation creates "exciting possibilities," and the government has committed $781 million for the next five years, to make the country a leader in charging systems for low-emission cars and trucks, according to PC Mag.
It is now accepting bids for sponsors of the off-road trials. The new electric car technology is scheduled to start sometime this year and conclude after 18 months or so.
Assessments will include equipping electric and hybrid vehicles with wireless technology. They will then test the underground charging equipment beneath the roads, to simulate conditions on motorways.
Following the off-road trials, the U.K. agency would then test the e-car charging tech on real roads. It stated that transport companies would benefit in particular.
Highways England has other plans to improve the scope of electric car technology. It intends to install plug-in charging stations at 20-mile intervals throughout the whole motorway network, according to The Hullaballoo. That is part of the U.K.'s Road Investment Strategy.
