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Britain to road-test "power on the move" to pave way for electric highways

Xinhua, August 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

The first ever trials in Britain to recharge batteries of electric vehicles as they are running along roads will take place soon, government officials announced Tuesday.

   The off-road testing of the new technology is expected to pave the way for "electric highways" with charging lanes designed into major routes and motorways.

   Although government policy is to see "charging points" on motorways every 32 kilometers, the ability to "charge on the move" is expected to make electrically-powered cars more popular.

   It is also expected to boost the use of electrically-powered heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) which need a higher power load.

   The trials, to start before the end of the year, are expected to run for 18 months, to be followed by trials on public roads.

   A spokesman for Highways England said Tuesday: "The trials are the first of their kind and will test how the technology would work safely and effectively on the country's motorways and major roads, allowing drivers of ultra-low emission vehicles to travel long distances without needing to stop and charge the car's battery."

China's Chang'an electric car is displayed at 2015 Shanghai International Automobile Industry Exhibition in Shanghai, China,  on April 22, 2015. (Xinhua/Pei Xin)

   The new trials follow the completion of a feasibility study commissioned by Highways England into "dynamic wireless power transfer" technologies.

   Government Transport Minister Andrew Jones said: "The potential to recharge low emission vehicles on the move offers exciting possibilities. The government is already committing 500 million pounds (780 million U.S. dollars) over the next five years to keep Britain at the forefront of this technology, which will help boost jobs and growth in the sector."

   The upcoming trials will involve fitting vehicles with wireless technology and testing the equipment, installed underneath the road, to replicate motorway conditions. The location of the trial is expected to be announced soon by government agency Highways England.

   At the same time, Highways England says it remains committed in the longer term to installing plug-in charging points every 20 miles (32 km) on the motorway network as part of a government multi-million dollar road investment strategy.

   Although all-electric vehicles only account for just over 1 percent on British roads, figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) show that electric car sales in Britain have risen dramatically during the past 12 months, with an average 2,400 being registered every month.