ElectReon, a developer of wireless electric roads, has completed a test of wireless charging of a 40-ton long-haul electric truck on the island of Gotland, Sweden. 

This marks the first truck operations on a public wireless electric road, according to the company. The test verified that the road infrastructure can successfully function in real-life conditions and that the system is not affected by snow or rain, according to ElectReon. 

Deployed in November 2019, the test was conducted on a public stretch of electric road between the airport and the town of Visby on the island of Gotland. It took place for a week and a half in winter conditions with rain and snow. Led by ElectReon, Smartroad Gotland is financed by the Swedish Transport Administration. 

Initially, the management unit was installed on the side of the road, connected to the electric grid and the coils under the road. Next, the communication with the coils was tested and then followed by the static charging of the truck via its five receivers. Finally, the system was operated for dynamic charging of the truck on a 50-meter section at a speed of up to 30 km/h (about 19 mph). The cloud-based system was automatically operated and remotely monitored, according to the company.   

The company called the results of the test satisfactory. The system operated while the truck was on the move, and all the receivers functioned and transferred 45 kW to the truck's battery. In the upcoming months, the transferred power and vehicle speed will be increased gradually in order to reach the goal of 125 kW and highway speed. Additionally, more electric road segments will be deployed, and an electric bus will be put into commercial operation as an airport shuttle.

"We are excited to wirelessly charge a long-haul electric truck while driving on a public road for the first time ever,” said Oren Ezer, CEO of ElecTreon Wireless. “The results of the test are an important milestone for the project funded by the Swedish Transport Administration and for enabling electric mobility that is convenient, cost effective, and sustainable.”