A test phase of inductive charging of electric vehicles has begun on the A6 autobahn near Amberg. Flat coils are installed under the asphalt, which create a magnetic field and charge the batteries of electric cars as they drive. This is reported by Focus.de.
Both cars and electric trucks are participating in the tests. The driver does not even notice the charging. The cars can drive at speeds from 80 to 120 km/h.
The 1 km long test track is the first in Germany and one of the few in the world. Similar projects exist in France, the Scandinavian countries, and the USA.
The technology will help make electric vehicles lighter and cheaper, since some of the energy can be obtained directly from the road rather than being carried in heavy batteries.
The use of inductive charging can reduce the weight of batteries by 50−80%, which will reduce the cost and make electric vehicles more environmentally friendly.
The charging energy comes from renewable sources and is transferred to the batteries only when the car is directly over the coil. This eliminates losses and makes the process safe.