Electreon, an Israeli company focused on enhancing the sustainability of electric vehicles, has reportedly achieved an outstanding accomplishment by setting a world record for the longest journey ever made by an electric vehicle without requiring a recharge. The company accomplished this remarkable feat through the utilization of wireless charging technology.
To achieve this milestone, a team of 55 individuals were given the responsibility of driving a Toyota RAV4 Prime exclusively in EV mode for over 100 hours. The Toyota RAV4 Prime is a plug-in hybrid vehicle equipped with an 18.1-kWh battery that provides an all-electric range of 42 miles. However, under the supervision of Electreon’s test drivers, this electrified crossover traveled an incredible distance of 1,207 miles without the need for a charging stop.
The company’s main objective was to demonstrate the capabilities of wireless charging technology through road infrastructure. During the 100-hour, 24-minute, and 15-second journey, the wireless charging road successfully transferred 241.69 kWh of energy to the RAV4 Prime, eliminating the need for its internal combustion engine or a charging stop. Additionally, the RAV4 Prime achieved an impressive reduction of 823 pounds in CO2 emissions compared to a conventional combustion-engined vehicle.
We completed our 100-Hour drive!
— Electreon (@Electreon) May 25, 2023
Thank you for watching us break the EV Range Anxiety!!
And thank you to our 55 Drivers!!! pic.twitter.com/fxjfRUD4q0
Apart from the evident advantages, this experiment has revealed several fascinating aspects. Despite the RAV4 Prime having a relatively modest battery capacity, it successfully covered significant distances thanks to the innovative wireless charging infrastructure. If this technology were widely adopted on public roads, it would alleviate manufacturers from the requirement of equipping their vehicles with bulky and inefficient batteries.
Not only does this contribute to reducing the weight of electric vehicles, but it also has the potential to increase their affordability. It is, however, important to note that widespread implementation of roads with wireless charging capabilities would be necessary for fully realizing this concept, which presents an encouraging trade-off.
Actively engaged in the wireless charging field, Electreon has previously partnered with EnBW from Germany to conduct trials of wireless charging for an electric bus on a dedicated road. Plans are currently in progress to introduce on-road wireless EV charging in Michigan, indicating the forthcoming expansion of this technology.
Although it might appear reminiscent of a science fiction story, the principle behind wireless charging is quite simple. Copper coils located beneath the road surface transmit energy using magnetic resonance, which is then captured by a receiver installed on the electric vehicle. This technology possesses the potential to be compatible with any electric vehicle, including a Tesla Model S, an electric truck, or a bus.
Sweden is on track to become a leading nation in adopting this technology, with the deployment of wireless charging infrastructure planned for route E20, which is part of the United Nations International E-Road network. Additionally, there are intentions to expand the network of wireless charging roads, spanning over a distance of more than 1,800 miles.
