The first wireless-charging public road in the United States has been installed in Detroit.

Electreon, a company that develops wireless charging technology, has partnered with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the City of Detroit to install a quarter-mile stretch of wireless-charging roadway on 14th Street in Detroit. 

The technology uses inductive coupling to transfer electricity from coils buried beneath the road surface to receivers installed on EVs. The goal of the project is to test and perfect the technology before making it available to the public.

The project is part of a larger effort to develop the nation’s first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road. 

In 2021, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced a pilot initiative to develop the nation’s first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road in Michigan. MDOT and Electreon have entered a five-year commitment to develop the electric road system (ERS), piloting the technology on Michigan roads.

For testing of efficiency and operations, they will use use a Ford E-Transit electric commercial van equipped with the Electreon receiver. Extensive testing of this inductive charging technology is set to begin early 2024.

Since Michigan is known as the auto capital of the world, and Detroit has a long history of transportation innovation, why not start there?! 

Go electric ✌️