In Sweden, a pioneer country in the adoption of electric vehicles, promising tests are being carried out with a system that allows cars to be charged while driving on the road, emulating the operation of classic Scalextric cars.
This technology, which could revolutionize electric mobility, is based on the installation of electrically conductive metal strips on the asphalt, strategically located in the center of each lane. And there are a few kilometers in testing in Sweden.
Cars equipped for this system have retractable "rails" that deploy from the bottom of the vehicle and make contact with the electrified strips when driving on the road. This connection, similar to that of a pantograph on an electric train, allows electricity to flow directly from the road to the vehicle's battery, recharging it while driving.
The company that is doing these tests is called Elonroad (in honor of Elon Musk) and you can see a video at: https://youtu.be/1d4D3d2UkDw
The advantages of this technology are numerous:
. Goodbye range anxiety: A major barrier to mass adoption of electric vehicles is the fear of running out of battery during a trip. Electrified roads eliminate this concern by providing a constant source of power, allowing drivers to travel long distances without having to stop to recharge.
. Smaller, lighter batteries: The ability to recharge while driving allows manufacturers to design electric vehicles with smaller, lighter batteries, which translates into greater energy efficiency, a lower sales price and a lower environmental impact.
. Optimized infrastructure: Instead of relying on an extensive and expensive network of fast-charging stations, electrified roads concentrate charging infrastructure on the road itself, optimizing the use of urban space and simplifying the charging experience for drivers.
. Greater sustainability: By enabling the use of smaller batteries, electrified road technology reduces demand for natural resources used in battery manufacturing, such as lithium and cobalt, decreasing the environmental impact of electric vehicle production.
But the drawbacks are not small, and I don't think it will end up coming to fruition. Apart from the cost of the infrastructure and the technical complexity, this system forces the cars to circulate one after the other as if they were train cars, something that goes against the “freedom” of driving of the users of cars.
And I wouldn't mind being mistaken, because I like the idea.
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