A better idea, one that would benefit more people, would be a highway that would refill gas tanks while cars were moving over it.
Fortunately, they have enough sense to do this on a side road and not on I-65. That is enough of a disaster as it is, without any experiments. I wonder if the test area is close enough to I-65 that you can see the flames and smoke in case something goes wrong.
Tinstaafl. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Most likely the under road charging system will provide some mode of electromotive resistance to the EV traveling over it, they slowing it down or making it harder to maintain speed.
I have a patent on a form of wireless charging - from the late 90s! Unless they’ve found some new physics, if you can get 90% efficiency you’re doing really well. Imagine how much power you’re throwing away by charging a big truck.
It’s a boondoggle. I’m a recovered academician. Whether it works or not is irrelevant. What’s important is how much grant money they got, how many papers they wrote and how many Ph.D.s did they graduate.
On April Fools day....how appropriate.
Mine doesn’t need charging.
Alhough I’ve got a rechargeable Coleman lantern that could charge as I roll on down the highway.
Some fly-by-night ‘green energy’ company with influential democrat backing will make a killing on a failed system, file for bankruptcy, the taxpayers will be left holding the bag, and the great circle of life will be complete.
Energizer Bunny has the contract.
Additionally, one electrocution of someone standing outside their car and they'll be tearing out the copper to sell it to pay the lawsuits.
At a quarter mile this is clearly a test/proof of concept. I have no problem testing the idea in the real world, and probably cheaper to use existing highway than to build a test track. You can close the road when testing (presumably at night) and cut the power when not testing.
Road is here:
-PJ
It’s always a good idea ... until Pete Buttigieg accuses the highway of being racist ...
Your hair might be a little frizzy after that quarter mile of charging