Florida is working to develop ways for drivers to charge their electric vehicles while on the road.
The Central Florida Expressway Authority and Advancing Sustainability through Electric Infrastructure for Road Electrification have partnered to install an on-road charging system along a little more than four miles of State Route 516 in Lake and Orange counties, CleanTechnica reported.
This is the first time that wireless charging has been installed on a concrete lane. The system can charge any vehicle, from passenger cars to large trucks and buses. The electromagnetic technology works in a similar way to small devices we use, such as toothbrush chargers. The system can detect when a vehicle is over it.
The Central Florida Highway Authority contracted with ENRX, a Norwegian company known for its work on this technology, with over 25 years of experience testing and installation on concrete. It has conducted several tests in Europe, achieving over 90% efficiency with a power capacity of 180 kilowatts while traveling at 50 miles per hour.
“This is a world premiere and it will be the most powerful in the world,” ENRX’s Sergio Pérez told the Orlando Sentinel.
Construction is scheduled to begin in April and continue through 2027.
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The project also includes a wildlife underpass to allow animals to cross into Green Swamp. Such wildlife crossings are becoming more common to reduce vehicle-wildlife accidents. For example, construction of the largest wildlife crossing has begun in Los Angeles.
The project is expected to cost nearly $550 million, with $14 million of that going toward construction of the on-road toll system.
A study conducted in the San Francisco Bay Area shows that EVs can reduce pollution: Sensor data collected between 2018 and 2022 showed a 1.8% annual decrease in toxic gases. Reducing local pollution can improve local health, but the US has been slow to build out charging infrastructure.
You can make your voice heard by voting for climate-conscious candidates who support charging infrastructure, and you can also ask your legislators to make it a priority.
“The Lake/Orange Expressway will be an example of what’s possible when we think about transportation of the future,” said Michelle Mykisch, executive director of the Central Florida Expressway Authority.
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