INDIANAPOLIS, IN — The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Purdue University, and Cummins Inc. have unveiled plans for the United States’ inaugural electric charging highway segment. This innovative project, slated for construction on U.S. 231/U.S. 52 in West Lafayette, promises to accommodate both heavy-duty and passenger electric vehicles at highway speeds.
Scheduled to commence construction on Monday, April 1, the dynamic wireless power transfer test site represents the culmination of years of collaborative research and testing. The endeavor aims to address the growing demand for sustainable transportation solutions while bolstering Indiana’s reputation as a leader in infrastructure innovation.
Steve Pekarek, Purdue University’s Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, III Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, underscored the simplicity and transformative potential of the technology, likening it to wireless charging for smartphones on a grand scale. “If you have a cellphone and you place it on a charger, there is what’s called magnetic fields that are coming up from the charger into that phone. We’re doing something similar. The only thing that’s different is the power levels are higher, and you’re going out across a large distance from the roadway to the vehicle,” said Steve Pekarek, Purdue’s Dr. Edmund O. Schweitzer, III Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering said in a statement. “This is a simple solution. There are complicated parts of it, and that we leave to the vehicle manufacturers.”
With construction anticipated to continue through the fall and additional work extending until May 2025, the project signals a significant milestone in the advancement of electric vehicle technology. Motorists are urged to exercise caution and vigilance in the construction area as the state prepares to embark on this historic endeavor.
