Elonroad, a Swedish charging technology company specializing in conductive electric road systems, is participating in a new US-Swedish research study that will investigate the potential for dynamic conductive charging on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in the US. The project is being carried out as part of the Future Mobility program, funded by Vinnova. The aim is to generate knowledge and data that can help US decision-makers assess whether conductive electric road systems (ERS) can be a scalable solution to reduce emissions from the transportation sector. The project will start in November 2025.
The study is led by Jakob Rogstadius at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden) and brings together partners from both Sweden and the US. RISE is responsible for coordinating the project and adapting its advanced simulation tool MOSTACHI to American conditions to analyze traffic patterns, energy use and economic impacts. Elonroad contributes technical knowledge and experience from previous and ongoing projects, and provides real-world operational data from conductive electric roads in different environments.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission serves as the end user. The Commission contributes infrastructure and traffic data, and disseminates the results through a network of U.S. transportation agencies. Michael Baker International (MBI), PA Turnpike’s general technical advisor, is leading the operational analyses and contributing additional funding to ensure the study meets the needs of road operators and policymakers.
Per Löfberg, Senior Project Manager at Elonroad, said:You could say we are helping the US find its key to the electric highway.
By sharing our experience with conductive ERS, we want to contribute to a joint knowledge building with the US to explore how electric road technology can support the mobility of the future.
About the research project
Road transport accounts for 23% of US greenhouse gas emissions, making electrification a central part of the transition. At the same time, electrification of heavy-duty and long-haul transport remains a challenge, partly due to large batteries and extensive charging infrastructure. Electric road systems (ERS) supply energy to vehicles while they are moving, reducing the need for large batteries, reducing costs and relieving strain on the grid.
Previous research in the US has focused primarily on inductive charging. This study evaluates the conductive charging technology behind Elonroad’s solution for the first time on a large scale. Conductive electric roads enable efficient and cost-effective energy transfer with high power and are suitable for both passenger cars and heavy trucks.
This article was originally written by Elonroad.
