Electrifying heavy vehicles is crucial to reduce emissions, but challenges such as high infrastructure costs and long-haul efficiency remain. Powering vehicles while in motion could offer a transformative solution, potentially revolutionising the future of transport.
Researchers at Swinburne University are fine-tuning existing dynamic wireless charging technology to explore how to use it to power heavy-duty electric trucks while travelling on roads in Australia.
Professor Mehdi Seyedmahmoudian, the project’s lead and the Director of Siemens Swinburne Energy Transition Hub, said the project represents a significant step towards integrating wireless charging technology with broader energy networks, offering a sustainable solution for both the transportation industry and local communities.
“We are integrating the dynamic wireless power transfer technology with the management of the energy grid to optimise power delivery and grid stability,” he told create.
While dynamic wireless charging has already been successfully tested for light vehicles and buses in controlled environments in several countries, its large-scale implementation for heavy vehicles faces several challenges. Infrastructure costs, energy efficiency and vehicle compatibility are all significant barriers, as well as questions about the feasibility of scaling the technology to support long-distance haulage.
The $8.2 million Swinburne project, which received $3 million in government funding, has the potential to address several challenges related to energy efficiency, sustainability and infrastructure in the transportation sector.
“As well as addressing the problems associated with recharging electric heavy vehicles, this development could benefit remote or isolated communities by providing them with a cost-effective energy solution,” Seyedmahmoudian said.
“In theory, essentially it would enable these communities to supply energy to electric vehicles passing through, without having to invest heavily in traditional charging infrastructure. It could help reduce energy costs for these communities while also integrating them into the broader network of charging stations, improving access to energy for both locals and passing vehicles.”
Overcoming challenges
Dynamic wireless charging operates by embedding copper coils in the road, which generate a magnetic field. This magnetic field transfers energy wirelessly to a receiver located under the vehicle, where it is captured and used to charge the vehicle’s battery.
For heavy vehicles, this means they could potentially use smaller, lighter batteries, making them more energy-efficient and cost-effective. It could also help reduce the environmental impact of producing and disposing of large batteries, as well as improve the operational range for long-distance haulage.
“Electrifying heavy vehicles could reshape Australia’s energy use, emissions policies, and logistics efficiency in a major way,” e-mobility consultant Riccardo Pagliarella said.
But there are still significant technical and regulatory hurdles in Australia.
“The costs and complexities of integrating this technology into the existing road infrastructure are substantial. The lack of a robust local industry to support the manufacturing and maintenance of wireless charging equipment is another barrier to widespread adoption.”
It is these challenges that are driving Seyedmahmoudian, who said the prototype would be the first in the world and offers a multitude of benefits.
To date, the team has completed the design and simulation stages and is now moving into experimental testing. One key challenge has been making sure that the technology is adaptable for all vehicle brands, particularly when retrofitting, Seyedmahmoudian said.
“A significant factor in this is the distance between a vehicle’s chassis and the road. It affects the efficiency of the charging process and while it was originally designed with safety in mind, the gap between the road and the chassis now needs to be optimised for charging efficiency.
“It could lead to global standardisation in the heavy-duty vehicle industry, a first in the field.”
Well-worn roads
The Swinburne project is not the first to look at using dynamic charging for electric heavy vehicles.
In June 2021, Electreon became the first company globally to charge two commercial vehicles simultaneously from the same public road in Sweden. The vehicles, a 40-t electric truck and a 12.5-m electric bus, had different battery systems and power requirements; showcasing the technology’s shared charging platform functionality. Other similar projects have been undertaken in Japan, South Korea and the United States.
Dr Hakan Sundelin, Regional Director for Electreon in the Nordic region, led the Smartroad Gotland project and said the project addressed challenges such as safety, electromagnetic interference and integration with the power grid.
“The project aimed to investigate the maturity of different electric road technologies, with wireless charging being one of them,” he said. “At the end of the project, we concluded that the technology is viable and it’s ready for deployment.”
In 2022, the electric bus began operating commercially while charging wirelessly from the road as well as at a stationary charging station. By September 2023, the electric truck successfully received a 100 kW charge from the road while driving at speeds of up to 80 km/h.
“There is some discussion about whether dynamic charging and static charging can co-exist, but in my view, they complement each other,” Sundelin said. “They work together to optimise charging times and enhance the efficiency of the commercial ecosystem.”
In Australia, determining the best way to electrify heavy vehicles has seen several trials. With a goal to transition the national heavy vehicle fleet to 100 per cent electric by 2040, the Electric Vehicle Council said a lack of charging infrastructure is a key challenge, particularly because the average range for a heavy vehicle on a single charge is around 300 km, leading to “range anxiety” for fleet operators.
In 2021, Melbourne launched its first electric bus trial, part of a broader effort to transition the city’s public transport to zero-emissions vehicles.
The buses use a range of charging solutions, including depot charging and in-road charging, which is a stepping stone toward the potential integration of dynamic wireless charging systems for public transport fleets.
In 2020, NSW launched its Electric Truck Trial Program, which includes testing electric heavy-duty trucks on Australian roads. As part of the initiative, work is being done to increase the number of electric vehicle charging stations along major highways to support electric trucks, especially in rural and regional areas.
While wireless charging is a possibility down the track, at the moment improving charging stations may be more investment-efficient and practical for heavy vehicles that require long-range driving in Australia, Pagliarella said.
“Some key, elemental standards for communications between electric vehicles and electric vehicle supply equipment do support wireless charging. It’s not conceptually far-fetched – it simply remains to be seen whether it is feasible.
“One of the major concerns with embedding wireless charging solutions in roads is the complexity and cost involved. Not only does it require significant electrical transmission and/or distribution, grid connections, and other foundational elements, but it also necessitates coordination with road maintenance bodies.
“Challenges in managing large infrastructure needing collaboration across multiple, diverse industries typically adds to direct and indirect project costs.”
Despite this, Seyedmahmoudian emphasises the potential long-term benefits.
“We have almost all the pieces of the puzzle,” he said. “The next steps are going to be how we scale it – because getting dynamic wireless charging right for heavy vehicles could offer savings of millions of dollars every year, while contributing to a more sustainable, efficient and safer transport network.”