Michigan starts testing roads that wirelessly charge electric vehicles
Electric vehicles won't always have batteries, and this is where we begin.
Key takeaways
- Whitmer said that a one mile stretch of road would be chosen for the Inductive Vehicle Charging Pilot, but it's not clear where it will be yet.
- Earlier this year, the Indiana Department of Transportation also announced that it would begin testing wireless charging highway pavement.
- Other tests are underway, or will soon be underway, in Israel and Norway.
Cite or link to this article
Griffin, M. (2021) 'Michigan starts testing roads that wirelessly charge electric vehicles', 311 Institute, 14 October. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/michigan-starts-testing-roads-that-wirelessly-charge-electric-vehicles/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Even the most extended range electric cars can be a real pain to charge. The amount of time it takes to replenish battery power is still far greater than the time it takes to refill a fuel tank, although several new EVs are getting closer and there are now both batteryless cars and commercial solar powered cars, as well as batteries that can charge in seconds are already being developed and sold.
Now though the state of Michigan, which was the first state to allow driverless vehicles on its roads in the USA back in the day, will become the latest state to try and remedy the issue after Governor Gretchen Whitmer opened the Motor Bella auto show in Pontiac, MI, yesterday, announcing that the state would begin testing wireless charging roadways. The state joins Indiana and several international organisations, including governments, with similar plans as well some other startups who, in some cases, have opted to use magnetised roads to charge EV's and even gotten cars to wirelessly charge one another.
Whitmer said that a one mile stretch of road would be chosen for the Inductive Vehicle Charging Pilot, but it's not clear where it will be yet. Earlier this year, the Indiana Department of Transportation also announced that it would begin testing wireless charging highway pavement.
The tests will take place in phases, beginning with testing and validation of different types of roadways. Phase three is when actual testing starts, though the location and timeframe are not yet defined.
The Michigan plan would move the state ahead of Indiana by going directly to the road test phase. Other tests are underway, or will soon be underway, in Israel and Norway. But one big question is implementation.
It's not possible to plug in a car while driving, so both the car and the road surface would have to be capable of wireless charging, and while there are some cars and vans capable of this already there obviously aren’t very many of them. Given time though, and with the right amount of investment in wireless charging infrastructure and systems, needless to say wirelessly charged electric vehicles could one day become the norm, like our wirelessly charged smart devices. And, as more vehicles adopt the technology and become more efficient, a charging highway could be a massive step forward for charging times and range anxiety issues.
What this means for your organisation
Cars and roads must move together.
Both the car and the road surface must support wireless charging, and few vehicles can do so today. Neither side will scale without the other. Carmakers and road authorities should agree standards early.
Range worries could fade on key routes.
A charging highway could be a big step forward for charging times and range anxiety. Fleets on fixed routes would benefit first. Logistics and transit operators should map which routes could gain from charging lanes.
Smaller batteries become possible.
If roads supply power, vehicles may not need such large batteries. That would change vehicle design, weight and supply chains. Battery buyers and makers should model a future where some charging moves into the road.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
- Which of our fleet routes could benefit from charging lanes?
- Should we plan vehicle purchases around wireless charging standards?
- How would charging roads change our battery needs?
The trends and technologies behind this story
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s article and 311 data. First published on Fanatical Futurist.
FAQ
Why does this matter?
Electric vehicles won't always have batteries, and this is where we begin.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, President and Futurist, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 17-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder, President and Futurist of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 14 October 2021. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2021). Michigan starts testing roads that wirelessly charge electric vehicles. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/michigan-starts-testing-roads-that-wirelessly-charge-electric-vehicles/
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