Detroit Today: Detroit just built America’s first electric charging road
The Michigan Department of Transportation and Electreon have entered a five-year commitment to develop the technology and pilot it on Michigan roads.
Electreon’s wireless charging technology is based on inductive coupling between copper coils installed below the road surface and receivers installed on electric vehicles.
Detroit is now home to America’s first stretch of road that wirelessly charges electric vehicles.
Located on 14th Street in Corktown near Michigan Central Station, the short stretch of road has been equipped with technology from the company Electreon, which allows inductive-charging coils embedded in the street to wirelessly transfer electricity to electric vehicles equipped with Electreon receivers.
The project was a collaboration between four primary agencies — the Michigan Department of Transportation, the City of Detroit, Newlab at Michigan Central and Electreon, and officials say it’s the first test of the roads in a real-world situation.
Tim Slusser, the chief of mobility innovation at the City of Detroit, and Nick Nigro, founder of Atlas Public Policy, joined Stephen Henderson on Detroit Today on Thursday to discuss the new technology and explore America’s growing electric vehicle infrastructure.
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Guests:
Tim Slusser is the chief of mobility innovation at the City of Detroit. He says Detroit is striving to be a leader in the electrified mobility space.
“My office and role is to make sure that, in the City of Detroit, we are in tune with where industry is headed. We are bringing that opportunity here, we are innovating,” said Slusser. “We’re giving Detroiters the opportunity to define what that future should look like.”
Nick Nigro is the founder of Atlas Public Policy, a Washington, D.C.-based firm that tracks data related to electric vehicles and climate change. He says electrification efforts in this country is the result of the government heavily investing in clean energy alternatives.
“When you look at what is the future and how we’re building the transportation system of the future, the two laws you brought up, the infrastructure law and the inflation reduction act, are really trying to make sure that whatever future we build, it’s a climate-friendly one,” said Nigro. “It’s one that is more energy secure.”
Listen to Detroit Today with host Stephen Henderson weekdays from 9-10 a.m. ET on 101.9 WDET and streaming on-demand.
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