The Future of Roadway Electrification: Dynamic Charging Systems and Heavy-Duty Vehicles

In late 2025, a system designed by engineers at Purdue University delivered 190kW to a battery in a truck traveling 65-mph on a quarter-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 52 in West Lafayette, Ind. A Cummins prototype Class 8 electric semi-tractor was outfitted with a single receiver coil that took the charge from a web of transmitter coils installed below concrete highway pavement by the Indiana Department of Transportation.

The successful test, Purdue says, is a milestone in dynamic charging research because it shows that it is conceivable to deliver the higher power levels required for charging the batteries of heavy-duty trucks as they move down the road. The power delivered by the Purdue system in the test far exceeds that delivered in other dynamic wireless charging tests that have focused on less demanding lighter-duty vehicles, opening the door to a future where heavy-duty trucks could be equipped with a single receiver coil and smaller, lighter batteries capable of being dynamically charged.

Dynamic charging has received more attention as EV sales and questions about the sufficiency of the EV charging infrastructure have grown. A research consortium, Advancing Self-sufficiency through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE), has helped lead the way. And some demonstration projects, notably one in Detroit spearheaded by the state of Michigan and General Motors, have been advancing. A commercial leader in the field worldwide, Electreon, is involved in a electrified road project that will be promoted at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Though the technology and related research is making strides real-world deployments are likely far down the road. But with EV adoption slowing partly because of the halting pace of charging station construction and persistent worries about the feasibility of the model, dynamic charging is seeing an opening. A March 2024 research paper published in Scientific Reports, Dynamic charging as a complementary approach in modern EV charging infrastructure | Scientific Reports, “Dynamic charging as a complementary approach in modern EV charging infrastructure,” argues that road-based charging should have a future: “Dynamic charging roads present a distinctive advantage. They not only markedly diminish the need for detours but also significantly reduce the supplementary charging duration. This highlights their potential superiority over traditional charging stations in terms of operational efficiency and end-user satisfaction.” A large cross-section of stakeholders, the authors say, “should collectively steer the development and deployment of innovative charging solutions, with a notable emphasis on wireless dynamic charging roads.”