Honda aims to enable electric trucks and cars to charge their batteries while in transit, eliminating the need to stop at conventional charging stations.
Honda's Research and Development division, in partnership with the Japanese construction company Taisei, has created the basis for a system that transfers energy wirelessly directly from the pavement to moving electric vehicles.
Tests on public roads in Japan are scheduled to begin next April, initially focusing on large commercial and logistics vehicles.
The transmitting units, manufactured by Honda and embedded in the asphalt, use magnetic induction to send energy to a receiver installed on the vehicle itself, which was also developed by the automaker. Taisei is responsible for providing the fast-response direct current power source, while Taisei Rotec designed the necessary procedures for installing the equipment on the track.
According to data provided by Honda itself, this is the first global case where the inverter and coil are integrated into the same unit, connected by direct current wiring. This innovation results in a reduction of components and simplification of construction work, allowing the system to be implemented on existing roads merely by milling the asphalt.
At Taisei's test site in Satte, the system demonstrated the capacity to support vehicles weighing approximately 20 tons. By the end of 2026, the construction of a second track in Tamura will begin, which should accommodate the equivalent of one million wheel passages, each weighing about 5 tons, in addition to tests focused on electromagnetic field leakage.
Subsequently, the companies will evaluate whether the system can deliver up to 150 kW, power comparable to a fast charger intended for heavy trucks, and whether the recharge remains stable even at high speeds.
This trio of companies will also participate in the Tateyama Project, a test conducted by the operator NEXCO East on the Tateyama highway in Chiba, starting in the 2027 fiscal year.
Although the idea is not entirely new, the Israeli company Electreon is already conducting tests on roads with wireless charging in countries such as Sweden, Italy, and the United States.
Honda has been studying this technology since 2021 and plans to present the project during the Japan Mobility Show Bizweek, which will take place between October 13 and 16.