In a groundbreaking initiative, Detroit's Corktown neighborhood becomes the canvas for the first-ever wireless EV charging public roadway in the United States. The collaborative effort involves the City, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and wireless charging provider Electreon.
Beneath the surface of the road, Electreon's inductive-charging copper coils lay dormant, ready to revolutionize how EVs charge. As electric vehicles equipped with Electreon receivers glide over the road, the embedded coils kick into action, transferring electricity wirelessly through a magnetic field. This ethereal dance of energy seamlessly charges the vehicle's battery.
Detroit's visionary wireless charging roadway is not just a feat in itself; it marks the inception of a pilot program aimed at refining and testing this cutting-edge technology in a real-world setting. A Ford E-Transit, adorned with an Electreon receiver, spearheads the experimentation.
The ambition extends beyond experimentation – the plan is to unveil this innovation to the public in the coming years. MDOT and Electreon pledge a five-year commitment to sculpt and pilot the electric road system across Michigan's thoroughfares.
The pilot zone stretches a quarter-mile along 14th Street, weaving between Marantette and Dalzelle Streets in the historic Corktown. This strip aligns with the Newlab at Michigan Central Building, a hub housing over 60 tech and mobility startups. Here, the wireless charging technology will undergo further scrutiny and refinement starting in early 2024.
Not limiting its prowess to the road, Electreon strategically places two static inductive charging stations outside the Michigan Central Station. These stations cater to Electreon-equipped vehicles during their moments of repose.
Looking ahead to 2024, MDOT sets the stage for a transformative phase by inviting bids to reconstruct part of Michigan Avenue (US-12), embedding additional inductive charging facilities. The road to a wireless EV future is being paved, and Detroit takes the lead in this poetic dance of progress.