Remember when Tesla Motors surprised with the Solid Metal Snake charging plug which allows the driver to park in the garage and automatically charge their electric car without having to physically touch the charger? It turns out that the UK government is looking to wow us some more.
Glancing even further in the future, a statement announced that trials will begin later on this year for a new marvel of technology dubbed the “electric highway.” No need to have a special set-up in your garage – just drive down this magnificent road and automatically recharge your electrical vehicle wirelessly.
EV owners will soon praise the existence of such technology, even though some time will pass until we will actually have these roads. But it will sure make their lives easier – no longer having to recharge the EVs at home or at public facilities when running low is mana from heaven.
When traditional gasoline or diesel engine cars run low on combustible, a quick detour at the gas stop can fix it in a matter of minutes, whereas recharging an EV can take hours (unless you have an expensive Model S and a Supercharger).
Taking longer trips will be easier for owners of EVs if the electric highway becomes reality, as they won’t lose a charge every time they have a drive. As a matter of fact, driving on this road would mean losing little to no charge in the process.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones has expressed his excitement over the possibilities that come from being able to recharge EV on the move – and excitement translated in a £500 million commitment from the UK government over the next five years.
Britain seems to be keen on staying at the forefront of this technology, a brand-new industry that offers great promise of boosting jobs in the sector. The trial for the electric highway is expected to run for roughly 18 months, a time when specially-equipped vehicles will test the road’s efficiency.
Even if tests turn unsuccessful, the government has pledged to fit the country’s motorways with standard plug-in charging stations at 20-mile intervals. Details about the technology that will be used for the electric highways are yet to be unveiled, but specialists speculate that Shaped Magnetic Field in Resonance (SMFIR) will be involved in the making.
Image Source: ABC News
