Wireless EV ‘On the Move’ charging trials to start in England. A sensible move?

Off road trials of new wireless charging technology for electric cars is to be trialled in England over the next 18 months to see if the technology is viable.

Highways England has announced they’re planning off road trials of the technology needed to power electric cars (and hybrids with batteries) on the move starting later in 2015.

The plan is to build a suitable infrastructure in to the trial roads (which won’t be real world roads), and in to the cars, to see if it’s a practical proposition. If they decide it is, then more trials will follow on real roads. But is this a sensible use of funds?

Yes, one of the big obstacles to the take-up of electric cars is range anxiety, and the ability to charge an EV as it moves along major roads would, for many drivers, remove that anxiety.

But the likely cost of implementing such a facility on major roads would surely be prohibitive – and for the benefit of the few – meaning not only major roadworks but, if the illustration Highways England sent us (above) is anything to go by, it will mean adding an extra lane in each direction to the roads offering the wireless charging.

Not only that, but with battery technology improving, and hydrogen powered cars starting to hit the market, does spending money to offer a facility that will, in all probability, be redundant inside a decade, make any sense?

Mike Wilson, Highways England Chief Engineer, said:

Vehicle technologies are advancing at an ever increasing pace and we’re committed to supporting the growth of ultra-low emissions vehicles on our England’s motorways and major A roads.

The off road trials of wireless power technology will help to create a more sustainable road network for England and open up new opportunities for businesses that transport goods across the country.

Still, even if wireless charging on the move for EVs is likely to prove a White Elephant, Highways England are planning a network of EV charging points every 20 miles on the motorway network, which will allow EV drivers to get around the country with less anxiety.