Feasibility Analysis of Electric Roadways Through Localized Traffic, Cost, Adoption, and Environmental Impact Modeling
Sponsor: US Dept. of Energy (DOE) ARPA-E
Completed: 2019
Electric roadways are able to transfer the electrical power to charge electric vehicles efficiently while they move along the roadway. This technology may offer the keys to electrifying heavy-duty vehicles and eliminating range anxiety as a barrier to electric vehicle (EV) adoption. Through funding awarded by the DOE ARPA-E IDEAS program, the electric roadways study will analyze freight and passenger vehicle corridors in lower Los Angeles County, California and evaluate in-road inductive wireless and overhead conductive electric roadway technology solutions.
The years-long study assessed:
•First adopters of the system
•Value proposition for incremental rollout
•Technology gaps for accelerated market adoption
•Localized impact on utilities and emissions reduction
By resolving these key questions, the project can catalyze public and private investment in electric roadway technology development, pilot project and infrastructure deployment, and market adoption. The ensuing rapid growth in EV adoption will lead to significant reductions in US energy consumption, oil imports, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while providing a strong stimulus to the domestic workforce. The project goals were accomplished through detailed localized analysis of freight and passenger vehicle corridors in lower Los Angeles County, California. Technologies were evaluated for both in-road inductive wireless and overhead conductive electric roadway solutions. The results can be extended to show the broader impact in other regions across the United States in major cities and along the Interstate Highway System.
The study’s team consists of faculty from Utah State University, Purdue University and Colorado State University; industry partner AECOM; and Southern California Edison, the local electricity supplier.
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