Utah university builds test track with in-motion wireless charging

The Utah State University has broke ground for its Electric Vehicle and Roadway (EVR) test facility, complete with an electrified test track.

Researchers will be able to experiment with in-motion wireless charging, thanks to inductive charging pads embedded in the quarter-mile oval roadway. The tech could theoretically be used to give EVs “infinite range” without the need for high-capacity batteries built into the vehicles.

“The desire to move along this trajectory from stationary charging to in-motion charging has always been part of the research strategy,” said USU’s VP of Advancement and Commercialization, Rob Behunin. “It’s about working out the bugs, the challenges and the science.”

Researchers suggest in-motion charging could help alleviate range anxiety and reduce the purchase cost of electric vehicles by 30 percent, with operation costs 75 percent lower than gasoline-powered models.

At a market penetration rate of 20 percent by 2035, the technology could potentially bring $180 billion in overall cost savings and a 20 percent reduction in air pollution in the US.

In-motion charging is unlikely to see widespread adoption in the near future, particularly as the US government struggles to find funding to maintain existing roadways and other infrastructure.