First Wireless Charging EV Road in Germany Gets Green Light
The first wireless charging public road in Germany has been given the go-head to power an electric public bus.
Israeli wireless technology specialist, Electreon, will be deploying one kilometer (1,093 yards) of its Electric Road System (ERS) along a stretch of road, as well as two static charging stations, the two locations are determined based on the bus route and where the bus stops during its operational schedule.
The technology will be deployed in the city of Balingen in two phases. In the first phase, a 400 meter (437 yard) route with two static charging stations will be deployed. In the second phase, the electric road will be expanded by another 600 meters (656 yards). The project will charge an electric bus travelling to the city.
This project, in collaboration with EnBW, a provider of charging infrastructure for EVs in Germany, follows a successful pilot of Electreon’s technology in the city of Karlsruhe. An electrified road was installed at the EnBW training center, powering a local public bus at peak hours. As part of the agreement for this latest project in Balingen, Electreon will receive up to €3.2M ($3.4M) to deploy the dynamic and static wireless charging infrastructure.
Dr Maximilian Arnold at EnBW, said: “The project in Balingen shows how innovatively and consistently we are promoting e-mobility in Germany. We have a holistic approach and want to make wireless charging technically fit for German public transport. This also includes convincing authorities, energy network operators, bus operators, and the general public of the opportunities. As a leading provider and innovation driver in the field of charging infrastructure, we are pleased to be part of this promising project with partners such as Electreon, and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.”
Dr Andreas Wendt, CEO, of Electreon Germany, added: “The aim of this project is not only to open up wireless charging to the public in Germany. Other significant aspects include the development and use of a tool that will assist public transportation planners in where to install the inductive infrastructure for a specific town or region. We have already shown in our joint Karlsruhe project with EnBW how effective, safe, and easy to deploy wireless dynamic charging is. We hope this is the start of many more projects on public and private roads in Germany.”
— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in Europe. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_
