The “Charge as you Drive” project has now moved from controlled environments to public roads. Four prototype vehicles, a truck, van, car and bus, equipped with receiver coils are being tested to evaluate the system’s performance in everyday traffic.
According to VINCI, initial data show the technology can transfer more than 300 kW of instantaneous power and around 200 kW on average under optimal conditions, sufficient to maintain or even increase battery charge while vehicles are in motion.
Under optimal conditions, coils embedded beneath the tarmac can transfer up to 300 kW of power to vehicles above. The energy is captured by receiver coils and converted into electricity, powering the motor and simultaneously recharging the battery.
The technology could significantly reduce the need for large and costly battery packs, lowering material use and carbon footprint while eliminating charging stops. A fully laden articulated lorry could theoretically maintain its charge indefinitely on equipped routes.
Photo credits @ Vinci Autoroutes
Lorries could shed tonnes of battery weight and gain payload capacity
For heavy vehicles in particular, the implications are considerable. Dynamic charging could reduce truck battery weight by several tonnes, freeing up payload capacity while lowering manufacturing and operational costs.
In France, where road freight accounts for most goods transport and a major share of greenhouse gas emissions, such developments are seen as key to meeting national climate targets.
The pilot builds on VINCI Autoroutes’ wider efforts to prepare France’s motorway network for electrification. All 180 service stations operated by the company are now equipped with charging terminals, and additional installations are underway at dozens of rest areas.
Dynamic charging takes this concept further by integrating energy transfer directly into the road surface. It opens the possibility of continuous power delivery to vehicles in motion, complementing existing charging stations and potentially easing pressure on the national grid through more even energy distribution.
Vehicle manufacturers must adopt compatible receiver systems
Photo credits @ Vinci Autoroutes
Embedding induction coils into busy motorways, however, requires careful engineering, durable materials and sustained investment. Standardisation is crucial: vehicle manufacturers must ensure their systems are compatible with inductive charging infrastructure, and agreement on technical specifications will determine whether the technology can scale beyond pilot projects.
The business model for large-scale deployment, whether based on user fees, public funding or private partnerships, is still under discussion.
Nevertheless, the A10 pilot demonstrates that wireless charging for vehicles in motion is technically feasible on an open motorway. If successful, the project could pave the way for similar systems along major freight corridors in France and across Europe.
