Business
Honda has developed a groundbreaking technology that will enable roads to wirelessly supply electricity to electric vehicles while they are in motion.
Tokyo: Honda has developed a groundbreaking technology that will enable roads to wirelessly supply electricity to electric vehicles while they are in motion. The core technology for the system has been completed, and practical trials are scheduled to begin in Japan in 2027.
Under this innovative technology, special coils will be installed beneath road surfaces, while an energy-receiving unit will be fitted underneath each vehicle. The coils embedded in the road will generate a magnetic field, which the vehicle's receiving unit will convert into electricity and deliver to the battery. Honda aims to transfer electricity at a rate of up to 150 kilowatts through this system, comparable to modern fast-charging systems. The project will initially focus on trucks and commercial vehicles, allowing them to travel long distances without having to stop frequently for recharging.
One of the major benefits of this system is the potential reduction in the overall weight of vehicles. If vehicles can receive electricity directly from roads, electric cars may no longer need large batteries weighing thousands of kilograms. This could lower manufacturing costs and make travel more affordable for consumers. Honda is not the only company working in this field. Israeli company Electreon has also successfully tested wireless charging technology on a 1.5-kilometre stretch of motorway near Paris, France.
According to technology experts, this technology could prove highly significant and transformative for the transportation sector in the long term. However, the project faces substantial financial challenges. Installing charging units beneath every road is an expensive and complex undertaking. Maintenance, safety and compatibility with different types of vehicles are additional obstacles that still need to be addressed. In the future, this system could also represent an important milestone for developing economies such as Pakistan. Although the technology is currently in the experimental stages in developed countries, successful implementation could fundamentally transform the transportation sector.
