Wireless Charging Roadway

The Road to Zero Emissions: Michigan unveils first wireless charging street

In November 2023, the nation’s first wireless-charging public roadway became fully operational in Detroit's Michigan Central innovation district. Unveiled by Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Director Bradley C. Wieferich and City of Detroit Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison, this groundbreaking milestone signals a new era in mobility. Using technology from Electreon, a quarter-mile segment of 14th Street is now equipped with inductive charging coils that wirelessly charge electric vehicles (EVs) as they drive, marking a pivotal step toward electrified, emission-free roads.

“Developing electrified roadways may be the catalyst to accelerate interest and acceptance of EVs for all consumers,” said Wieferich. “This collaboration supports a more sustainable future with fewer emissions.”

This innovative infrastructure, which will expand to a mile of inductive charging roadway in Detroit’s historic Corktown neighborhood, will undergo extensive testing in 2024 using Ford’s EV Transit shuttle. The testing will collect a variety of data from the system for broader use, reinforcing Michigan’s leadership in mobility innovation.

“We’re excited to spearhead the development of America's first wireless charging road,” added Dr. Stefan Tongur, Electreon’s vice president of Business Development. “This project paves the way for a zero-emission mobility future.”

Alongside the wireless road, Electreon has installed static wireless charging stations near Michigan Central Station, further supporting the state’s electrification efforts. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s vision to lead the EV revolution continues with future projects, including the electrification of Michigan Avenue.

Powering the wireless charging roadway

"As we aim to lead the future of mobility and electrification by boosting electric vehicle production and lowering consumer costs, a wireless in-road charging system is the next piece to the puzzle for sustainability." ~ Gov. Whitmer

Learn more about Electreon

How wireless charging works

Connects

The system connects energy provided by the unit to the in-road wireless charging coil segments when an authorized vehicle is directly above the segment.

Monitors

MDOT and our traffic service centers will monitor and gather insights in real-time with cloud-based software.

Receives

A vehicle kit receives the wireless energy from the wireless charging coils to transfer to the car battery.

Benefits of wireless charging

Electric vehicles using the roadway will be able to...

Charge while driving.
Charge while in motion.
Charge while parked.

The technology provided by our partner, Electreon, allows a variety of wireless charging for electric vehicles.

Explore the future of mobility with Ellie

Dive into innovation: Explore test reports from Ellie, the EV Transit

Ellie, the EV Transit powered for wireless charging, is paving the way for next-generation EV technology.

Equipped with Electreon’s advanced receiver system, Ellie charges seamlessly in both static and dynamic settings, with our first quarter-mile of electrified roadway installed on 14th Street and wireless charging parking spots outside of the Michigan Central Station.

Curious about Ellie’s performance? Our test reports provide insights into efficiency, operational data and the potential for electrified transportation. Discover how this groundbreaking project is shaping a sustainable, zero-emission future.

Test report for September 2024

How electric roads could help solve EV range anxiety

Electric vehicles are on the rise, capturing a growing market share. Lack of charging infrastructure is a common hurdle but electric road projects, like Detroit’s upcoming initiative led by Electreon, offer wireless charging while driving, promising versatile solutions for various vehicles. Watch the CNBC video story.

Electrifying the future of transportation

Working with NextEnergy and Jacobs Engineering Group, the project is being hosted by and lives within Michigan Central, a mobility innovation district, and supported by partners like the City of Detroit, Ford Motor Co., and DTE Energy. Michigan's in-road charging will lead to best practices for a wireless electric road system.