Detroit is now home to the nation’s first wireless-charging roadway for electric vehicles.

Using technology from Electreon, ¼ mile of 14th Street in Detroit’s Michigan Central innovation district is now equipped with inductive-charging coils between Marantette and Dalzelle streets, according to a November 2023 press release issued by Michigan Central.

The coils will charge EVs equipped with Electreon receivers as they drive on the road, which runs alongside the Newlab at Michigan Central Building, home to more than 60 tech and mobility startups—including Electreon, said Stefan Tongur, Electreon’s vice president of business development for the United States.

The road will be used to test the wireless-charging technology in a real-world environment and perfect it ahead of making it available to the public in the next few years, Tongur said. The effort is a collaboration between Electreon, Michigan Central, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the city of Detroit, Ford Motor Co., Mcity, Jacobs, Next Energy, DTE Energy and others.

“We’re excited to spearhead the development and deployment of America’s first wireless charging road,” he said. “Alongside Michigan’s automotive expertise, we’ll demonstrate how wireless charging unlocks widespread EV adoption, addressing limited range, grid limitations and battery size and costs. This project paves the way for a zero-emission mobility future, where EVs are the norm, not the exception.”

Electreon’s wireless charging technology is based on inductive coupling between copper coils installed below the road surface and receivers installed on EVs, Tongur said. When a vehicle with a receiver nears the in-road charging segments, the road transfers electricity wirelessly through a magnetic field. This electricity is then transferred as energy to the vehicle’s battery. The charging segments can transfer wireless electricity to the receiver either when the vehicle is parked or is driving.

“The electric road is safe for drivers, pedestrians and wildlife,” Tongur said. “Each coil in the road is activated only when a vehicle with an approved receiver passes over the coil. This ensures that energy transfer is controlled and provided only to vehicles that require it.”

Remaining work along 14th Street is expected to continue through the end of 2023, with extensive testing of the inductive charging technology beginning in early 2024, according to the press release. Using a Ford E-Transit electric commercial van provided by Ford Motor Co. and equipped with the Electreon receiver, staff will test the efficiency and operations of the vehicle and study potential long-term public transportation opportunities.

In 2024, MDOT will begin seeking bids to rebuild part of U.S. 12 (Michigan Avenue), which will see additional inductive charging installed. Electreon has also installed two static inductive charging stations in front of Michigan Central Station, which will be able to charge Electreon-equipped vehicles while parked.

MDOT and Electreon have entered a five-year commitment to develop the electric road system, piloting the technology on Michigan roads, said Bradley C. Wieferich, MDOT’s director.

“Developing electrified roadways may be the catalyst to accelerate interest and acceptance of EVs for all consumers,” Wieferich said. “Making it easier for EV users to find a reliable charging source without disrupting their commute supports both fleet operations and passenger travel.”