Michigan developing electrified road to wirelessly charge EVs, Whitmer says

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) on Tuesday announced a new effort to develop a wireless charging public road that would allow motorists to charge their electric vehicles without making a stop to plug in.

Whitmer made the announcement concerning the Inductive Vehicle Charging Pilot during Michigan’s Motor Bella, an alternative option to the North American International Auto Show, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Michigan Department of Transportation will reportedly request a proposal for work on an unidentified one-mile stretch of road in the Detroit area at the end of this month.

“We’re rebuilding infrastructure in Michigan. Orange barrels are everywhere. It’s important that we’re rebuilding, but we’re doing it in a resilient way that supports advanced technology,” Whitmer said during the event, according to the Free Press.

She added that a wireless charging project would be critical to accommodating the needs of electric vehicle fleets.

“Michigan was home to the first mile of paved road, and now we’re paving the way for the roads of tomorrow with innovative infrastructure [that] will support the economy and the environment, helping us achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,” Whitmer said.

Trevor Pawl, chief mobility officer with the state’s Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, lauded the announcement, noting that the innovation could be very beneficial for electric buses, shuttles and other vehicles.

“This electrified roadway has the potential to accelerate autonomous vehicles at scale and turn our streets into safe, sustainable, accessible and shared transportation platforms,” Pawl said, according to the newspaper.