Original news were published on 19 July, 2016

Authorities in Sweden have unveiled the first stretch of electric road as part of a project to explore new methods for heavy transport in the country.

The E16 road will enable the transfer of electric power to heavy transport vehicles via a current collector on the roof of the truck cab. This is then connected to a hybrid electric motor in the truck, allowing operators to use cleaner electric power while transiting the road.

”Electric roads are one more piece of the puzzle in the transport system of the future, especially for making the heavy transport section fossil fuel-free over the long term. This project also shows the importance of all the actors in the field cooperating,” said Erik Brandsma, director-general of the Swedish Energy Agency.

Tests on the road are expected to continue into 2018 and will explore how electric roads work in practice, and what technology is most practical for future. The project is backed by three government agencies - the Swedish Transport Administration, the Swedish Energy Agency and Vinnova.

The test stretch on the E16 is two kilometers long and uses similar technology to light rail, with a current conductor on the roof that feeds 750 volts DC to the vehicle.

*NEWS SOURCE