Groundbreaking of High-power Wireless Charging in Public Roadway

Outcome/Accomplishment

The NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE), headquartered at Utah State University, has broken ground on an electrified roadway system and has begun demonstration of the technology

Impact/Benefits

ASPIRE’s electrified roadway research contributes to developing new infrastructure that would make it easier for passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks alike to charge on the go, and not have to worry that their vehicle lacks the range to travel between stationary charging stations.

Explanation/Background

The ASPIRE project team has been collaborating with infrastructure consulting firm AECOM and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) on the electrified roadway project. The team developed custom numerical tools for analysis and design of pavements and electromagnetic systems, and has developed three-phase dynamic wireless charging technology for high-powered electrified roads that adheres to safety standards for magnetic fields. The team calibrated numerical models using pavement testing data from the electrified pavements. Test data were leveraged to design a 230 kW dynamic wireless charging system. Electrified concrete and asphalt pavements were then built with the support of INDOT. The measured dc-to-dc efficiency of this 79-90 kHz system at 200 kW output power is 91.4%. 

Image
Credit:
ASPIRE

Location

Logan, Utah

e-mail

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy and Smart Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Utah State University

Core Partners

Purdue University, University of Colorado, University of Texas at El Paso
Image
Credit:
ASPIRE

Outcome/Accomplishment

The NSF-funded Engineering Research Center (ERC) Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE), headquartered at Utah State University, has broken ground on an electrified roadway system and has begun demonstration of the technology

Location

Logan, Utah

e-mail

Start Year

Energy and Sustainability

Energy and Sustainability Icon
Energy and Sustainability Icon

Energy and Smart Infrastructure

Lead Institution

Utah State University

Core Partners

Purdue University, University of Colorado, University of Texas at El Paso

Impact/benefits

ASPIRE’s electrified roadway research contributes to developing new infrastructure that would make it easier for passenger cars and heavy-duty trucks alike to charge on the go, and not have to worry that their vehicle lacks the range to travel between stationary charging stations.

Explanation/Background

The ASPIRE project team has been collaborating with infrastructure consulting firm AECOM and the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) on the electrified roadway project. The team developed custom numerical tools for analysis and design of pavements and electromagnetic systems, and has developed three-phase dynamic wireless charging technology for high-powered electrified roads that adheres to safety standards for magnetic fields. The team calibrated numerical models using pavement testing data from the electrified pavements. Test data were leveraged to design a 230 kW dynamic wireless charging system. Electrified concrete and asphalt pavements were then built with the support of INDOT. The measured dc-to-dc efficiency of this 79-90 kHz system at 200 kW output power is 91.4%.