Electric Truck Makes First Wireless Charging on the Roadway

Electric Truck Makes Wireless Charging at Highway Speeds For The First Time

A new test in Indiana marked a major step for electric trucking. For the first time in the United States, an electric truck charged wirelessly while driving at highway speeds. The test showed how this new technology could change long-haul freight in the future.

Electric Truck Charges While Driving

Researchers at Purdue University worked with the Indiana Department of Transportation to build a short stretch of roadway with a wireless power system. They placed coils under the pavement that sent power to an electric semi-truck as it drove over them. The truck moved at normal highway speed during the test.

The electric semi received up to 190 kilowatts of power from the coils. This happened on a quarter-mile test segment near West Lafayette. The test proved that wireless power can reach a moving heavy-duty truck, even at 65 miles per hour.

Electric Coils Under the Pavement Make Power Transfer Possible

The system works much like a wireless phone charger, but on a much bigger scale. Coils under the road create a magnetic field. Then, coils under the electric truck pick up that energy and send it to the battery.

This method is called “dynamic wireless power transfer.” It allows an electric truck to gain energy while moving. This reduces the need for long charging stops. It also opens the door for new types of freight routes.

Electric Trucks Could Spend Less Time Charging

The biggest challenge for electric trucks is charging time. Truck batteries are large and heavy. They take time to charge, and they reduce the space a truck can use for freight. Wireless charging on the road could help solve both problems.

Since the electric truck charges while driving, it could travel farther without stopping. It could also use a smaller battery. That may reduce truck weight and lower costs for fleets. As a result, this new system could make electric trucks more practical for long-haul work.

Electric Power Test Supported by Industry Partners

The test used an electric semi-tractor developed by Cummins, a company known for heavy-duty engines and new power systems. Purdue engineers and state workers installed the charging coils into a real highway surface.

The project is part of a larger plan to study how wireless charging can help the electric transportation industry. Purdue says the same system could also support lighter electric vehicles in the future.

Benefits for Drivers and Fleets

If this technology expands, electric trucks could gain several benefits:

• Less downtime for charging
• Smaller batteries with less weight
• Lower operating costs
• More flexible freight routes
• Better use of driver hours

These changes could help the electric trucking sector grow faster. They may also help fleets meet future emissions rules.

Roadway Technology Still Needs More Testing

There are still challenges ahead. Wireless charging roads cost money to install and maintain. States will need strong partnerships with federal leaders and private companies. The industry also needs standards for roadway systems and truck equipment.

Even so, this first test shows that the idea is possible. It also shows that electric trucks can charge while moving without losing speed or performance.

Electric Truck Charging on the Road Could Shape the Future

More testing will take place over the next few years. The Purdue team plans to study longer highway segments and higher power levels. If the research continues to show success, the United States could one day see electric charging lanes on major freight routes.

This first successful run is an early sign of what may come. As the trucking industry moves toward cleaner energy, electric charging on the road could become a key part of freight movement across the country.