Recently, the U.S. state of Florida has announced plans to launch a pilot project aimed at constructing highways capable of wirelessly charging electric vehicles (EVs). This innovative "charging highway" will be implemented on a brief stretch of State Road 516, with the test section spanning roughly 1.21 kilometers. The Central Florida Expressway Authority will oversee the construction, which is scheduled to unfold in three distinct phases. The inaugural segment is anticipated to open its doors to the public in 2029, though at present, it is solely designated for the preliminary testing of specially modified vehicles.
Previously, analogous initiatives have been explored in France as well as in the U.S. state of Michigan. However, the Michigan project ultimately failed to come to fruition. Meanwhile, Purdue University, in collaboration with the Indiana Department of Transportation, successfully conducted the first highway wireless charging test in the U.S.
Despite these advancements, a significant portion of netizens remains skeptical, viewing the wireless charging highway project as more of a publicity stunt than a viable solution. They point to concerns such as exorbitant costs and subpar efficiency, even going so far as to label it a "profit-driven scheme."
