As electric vehicles (EVs) become ever more common, the question arises: how can we improve the convenience and sustainability of the UK's public charging infrastructure? One emerging idea is the concept of electric roads that can charge EVs as they drive, or enable dynamic charging so EVs don’t need to stop to recharge. In this article, we explore what electric roads are, how the technology works, what the benefits and challenges are, and what this could mean for the future of EV adoption and fleets.
What are electric roads?
Electric roads, sometimes called inductive charging roads, dynamic-charging roads, or charging roads, refer to road infrastructure that can transfer energy to electric vehicles while they're driving (or stationary). Instead of plugging into a charger at a station, EVs equipped with compatible charging hardware draw power directly from the road surface or an embedded system.
In very simple terms, electric roads charge EVs as they drive.
There are generally two main approaches:
Embedded dynamic charging (inductive or conductive): Electric cables or conductive rails are embedded in the road or along its surface, and vehicles draw power through a pickup system. This can be either contact-based (conductive rails) or contactless (inductive coils).
Overhead charging (catenary or overhead wires): Similar to those used by trams or electric buses, overhead lines carry current, and EVs draw power via pantographs or similar hardware.
The goal for electric road technology is to enable continuous charging, meaning shorter battery packs, lower upfront costs for EVs, and reduced dependency on stationary chargers.
Why electric roads matter for the future of EVs and fleets
The potential benefits of electric roads are significant, particularly for commercial fleets, long-haul transport, and urban delivery services.
1. Reduced need for large batteries
One of the highest costs and limitations in EVs is their battery size. Consumers demand further and further range requirements for new electric vehicles, which means larger batteries. But large batteries increase vehicle cost, weight, and charging time. Battery size and capacity are also often cited as major challenges to HGV fleets adopting alternative fuel technology. With dynamic charging, vehicles, including HGVs, could rely on smaller batteries drawing power as they drive, reducing cost, lightening loads and environmental impact.
2. Less charging downtime
For businesses that rely on vehicle logistics, delivery, and field service, downtime waiting for charging can be costly. Electric roads could dramatically reduce or even eliminate that downtime, improving utilisation and efficiency.
3. Lower long-term infrastructure pressure
Instead of building thousands of static charging stations with grid upgrades, parking capacity and space constraints, electric roads embed charging into the existing road network. Over time, this could scale more efficiently, especially on busy transit corridors or delivery routes. However, we must appreciate the effort required to implement electric road technology.
4. Accelerated EV adoption and zero-emission mobility
With easier charging and reduced costs, electric roads could make EVs more accessible to a wider range of users, commercial fleets, smaller businesses, and even private drivers, helping accelerate the transition away from fossil-fuel vehicles.
How does electric-road technology work?
Here’s how the main approaches operate:
Conductive embedded rails or plates
Conductive rails or plates (metal strips) are laid either flush with the road surface or slightly raised.
EVs are fitted with a pickup shoe or under-carriage connection that draws electricity from the rail as the vehicle passes over it.
A software/control system ensures electricity flows only when a compatible vehicle is above the rail, preventing waste and maintaining safety.
Inductive charging (wireless)
Coils embedded under the road surface generate an electromagnetic field when electrified.
Vehicles have a receiver coil that picks up the field and converts it into power for the battery.
This method requires precise alignment or a broad enough coil field and is typically less efficient than conductive rails but offers better safety and fewer maintenance issues.
Overhead catenary/pantograph systems
Overhead wires carry electricity at high voltage, which is similar to electric trains/trams.
EVs designed for this system deploy a pantograph or an arm that connects to the overhead wire when driving or at set points, for example, motorway lanes.
Vehicles draw power while moving; energy can supplement battery use or directly power the motor.
Each system has pros and cons in terms of cost, efficiency, safety, maintenance and retrofit feasibility.
Current state trial projects and challenges
While electric roads are often spoken about as the future as real-world deployment is still limited. A few countries and pilot projects have explored the technology, but widespread rollout remains a challenge.
The key barriers include:
High infrastructure cost: Embedding conductive rails or inductive coils, or installing overhead wires, requires significant upfront investment and roadworks, making it difficult to retrofit existing road networks at scale.
Vehicle compatibility: EVs must be specially equipped to draw power, meaning older vehicles or many current models would not benefit. This complicates adoption, especially for consumer markets.
Safety and maintenance concerns: Ensuring that embedded electrical infrastructure remains safe in varying weather conditions (rain, snow, ice), is durable under heavy traffic and can be maintained without major disruption.
Standardisation: Without industry-wide standards for charging voltage, rails/coils, and connectors, there is a risk of fragmentation. To be viable, electric roads need standardised protocols, safety measures, and consumer trust.
Regulation and planning: Governments and local authorities need to coordinate planning, funding, environmental impact assessments and long-term maintenance.
Despite those challenges, some pilot schemes and studies suggest that electric roads could become a reality, especially for freight corridors, urban logistics routes, or bus lanes.
What electric roads mean for businesses and EV fleets
For businesses that depend on vehicles, especially commercial fleets and delivery services, electric roads hold particular promise. Here’s how companies could benefit:
Lower total cost of ownership (TCO)
Smaller battery packs, reduced charging downtime, and savings on fuel/electricity all translate into lower TCO for EV fleets. Over time, this could make EVs more affordable and practical.
Better utilisation and higher efficiency
Fleets could operate longer hours with less “dead time” for charging. For example, a delivery van could keep working through the day without needing to stop mid-route, improving turnaround times, capacity and profitability.
Competitive advantage for early adopters
Businesses that plan and invest in compatible EVs or adapt fleets may benefit early, gaining cost savings and a greener image before others catch on.
Environmental and regulatory benefits
As emissions regulations tighten and environmental compliance becomes more important, fleets using electric-road compatible EVs would be ahead of the curve, reducing emissions, potentially qualifying for clean-fleet incentives, and enhancing corporate responsibility credentials.
What still needs to happen before electric roads become mainstream?
For electric roads to become a viable, widespread reality, several things need to align:
Governments and infrastructure planners need to support pilot schemes and fund infrastructure upgrades (roads, energy grid, maintenance).
Industry stakeholders, vehicle manufacturers, charging-technology providers, and regulatory bodies must define standards for charging infrastructure, safety, and compatibility.
Fleet operators need to evaluate return on investment carefully, factoring in retrofit costs, adoption of new hardware, and long-term savings.
Awareness and planning: both public and private sectors must embrace the concept early to ensure smooth rollout and avoid fragmentation.
Are electric roads a viable option for the future of EV travel?
Potentially, yes.
Electric roads promise to overcome some of the biggest barriers to EV adoption: battery cost, charging downtime, and infrastructure pressure. For commercial fleets and businesses, the benefits could be transformational: reduced costs, higher efficiency, and easier compliance with environmental standards.
However, widespread implementation will not happen overnight. It requires coordinated action from government policy and infrastructure investment, to vehicle manufacturer cooperation and industry standards. Until then, electric roads remain an exciting possibility rather than a guaranteed future.
For businesses evaluating fleet electrification, it’s worth watching developments closely. Planning for compatible vehicles, infrastructure, and incentives may position you favourably when electric roads eventually gain traction. For more savings on your EV, it may be worth looking into an EV charge card.
