Wire Enamels
Inductive charging while driving? What may initially sound a bit like science fiction has now become reality on the A6 near Amberg in Bavaria: On a one-kilometer stretch of the highway, electric vehicles can charge their batteries while driving – contactless and without stopping. This is made possible by an innovative inductive charging system that was implemented as part of a research project at the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, in which ELANTAS also played a key role.
During road resurfacing several months ago, magnetic coils were embedded into the asphalt to generate a magnetic field. A second coil in the vehicle captures this energy while driving and converts it into electricity. The purpose of the project is to gain practical experience and use the technology in the long term, particularly for the electrification of truck traffic. In the future, this could allow for smaller and lighter batteries in vehicles.
To ensure that the inductive coils installed in the road remain protected and function reliably, many tons of ELANTAS casting material were used: a polyurethane resin. The beige compound protects the coils from external influences such as moisture, temperature fluctuations, and mechanical stress, thus ensuring stable performance of the charging system.
The project impressively demonstrates that the technology for charging while driving is no longer a distant vision of the future – it has been researched, tested, and is ready for practical use. ELANTAS is thus supporting a significant step toward more sustainable mobility and actively shaping the future of e-mobility.