Stalantis’ work on the future of driving continues in his “Arena del Futuro”, an experimental road where inductive charging is being tested. Automaker has announced that it has been able to achieve the same level of efficiency as fast charging stations
In fact, Stellantis says it has been able to get an electric Fiat 500 to travel at highway speeds without using the energy stored in its batteries. Magnetic field intensity tests have further shown that it can do this without affecting the driver.
This is great because it means that on highways with inductive charging technology, the range of electric vehicles can be virtually infinite. Stellantis is working with several partners on this technology.
Read more: Stellantis opens 0.6-mile test highway that recharges EV wirelessly on the go
The test facility, located in Chiari, Italy, uses a system of coils under the asphalt that transmit power directly to cars, buses and trucks when they are equipped with a special receiver. That energy goes directly from the road to electric motors, allowing them to run on batteries.
The “Arena del Futuro” uses direct current (DC) to reduce the loss of electricity during the power distribution process. This allows road builders to use thinner wires made of aluminum instead of copper, which is cheaper and easier. The automaker further promises that there are no exposed wires, despite having electric field, this technology makes it safer for people to walk on the road.
“Our long-term strategic plan, Dare Forward 2030, is based on bringing a ‘sophisticated freedom of mobility’ to all, and this project is the essence of where we are going as a company,” said Annie Liz Richards, Global e-Mobility Business Unit. Chief, Stellantis. “These joint ventures are exciting initiatives because we work to achieve longer battery life, shorter range concerns, greater power efficiency, smaller battery size, outstanding performance and lower weight and cost.”
