A 1-mile stretch of roadway in the heart of Detroit could become the proving ground for a technology that promises to zap away electric vehicle owners’ fears of running out of juice.
The experiment will test how to turn a road into a big wireless charging platform for EVs driving on it. The inductive charging concept is similar to how many Americans now charge cellphones, electric toothbrushes and power tools — without plugging them in.
Dallas-based engineering giant Jacobs is one of three firms selected by the Michigan Department of Transportation to run the $1.9 million test. It’s teaming with inductive charging developer Electreon and Detroit-based clean energy accelerator NextEnergy. Jacobs will manage the project and provide design services.
