August 29, 2011

Even as the number of electric vehicle charging stations grow across the U.S., there is concern among potential buyers about the limited distance electric cars can travel. A newly discovered technology could ease those fears and provide unlimited EV driving potential. Japanese researchers are developing a system that is based on railway infrastructure in which individual cars pass through overhead wires.

Instead of coming into contact with the wires, the new technology would convert energy from overhead power lines into radio frequencies and transmit them to a metal track embedded under the surface of the road. The electric car would pick up the voltage between the metal and steel belt inside its tires.

Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology have tested the feasibility of the design in low-power experiments. They say if the energy transfer can be increased to tens of kilowatts on highways, it may be possible in the future to drive with a small battery and without concern of the battery running out power.