France is set to test the installation of charging stations for electric cars and trucks on the A10 highway near Paris, providing evidence of the effectiveness of two technologies that enable vehicles to travel longer distances with smaller batteries, thus consuming fewer rare metals.
The first technology involves installing magnetic coils beneath a layer of asphalt for wireless charging, similar to mobile phones. The second technology consists of electric charging cables laid beneath the asphalt layer with charging sockets installed on the ground.
These "electric road" systems could accelerate the ongoing revolution in the automotive industry, allowing electric vehicles to run for extended periods without stopping for charging and without the need for excessively heavy and material-intensive batteries.
According to a study by the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), these "electric roads" could reduce the distance conventional cars can travel on a single charge by 62-71%, thereby reducing the size of their batteries. Additionally, the cost savings from battery production could contribute to funding the "electric road" project.
France selected the A10 highway as the location for the project to test these solutions on a highway. Louis du Pasquier, the project manager at the construction conglomerate Vinci (France), explained that the main goal is to "address some final issues before deploying these technologies on a large scale, covering hundreds or thousands of kilometers."
The initial tests will take place in September 2023 in Rouen, on the closed circuit of Cerema - a public facility, under the supervision of the French Ministry of Ecological Transition.
Subsequently, these dynamic charging systems will be installed on a 4 km stretch of the right lane of the A10 highway in the Paris-Orléans direction, above the toll station Saint-Arnoult-en-Yvelines. The charging system will only operate when connected to compatible vehicles.
The Mont-Blanc highway (Haute-Savoie) will also soon test a solution called the "road scanner," developed by the transport technology company Alstom, initially intended for electric trains. In this concept, vehicles will be equipped with a retractable device to collect electricity from wires installed under the road surface.
According to a report submitted to the French Ministry of Transport in the summer of 2021, "electric roads" are essential to rapidly electrify long-haul heavy cargo vehicles that still predominantly run on diesel.
Technological Barriers
Patrick Pelata, former director of Renault, explained that "electric roads" would help "deeply decarbonize the long-haul transportation sector, as long as Europe continues to decarbonize the power sector."
He ensured that this idea also demonstrates "excellent energy efficiency because the continuously available charging source will not hinder the truck's operational conditions, significantly reducing the necessary size for the heavy-duty truck's long-distance battery" and helping reduce the demand for charging stations.
However, technological barriers still need to be overcome. According to reports sent to the French Ministry of Transport, wireless charging technology is not powerful and is very expensive, causing congestion at charging station areas and posing issues for two-wheeled vehicles.
In addition to wireless and wired charging, there is a third solution being tested in Germany: cable car-like power line technology, similar to what urban electric trains use. According to reports, this is the "most advanced technology," but it is only suitable for trucks and raises road safety concerns due to the need for electric pole installations along the road.
Start-up company Electreon, a sensor system provider, has launched numerous projects in Israel, Sweden, Italy, and the United States. In Italy, Fiat is testing the Fiat 500 charging project. Meanwhile, the joint venture Elonroad, the second technology provider in the article, has been conducting tests since 2019 in southern Sweden.
The A10 highway test project will span three years with a budget of 26 million euros and support from the French Public Investment Bank (BPI) through France's 2030 development plan.
(Source: PetroTimes)
