Honda is working on a system that could let electric vehicles charge without stopping—or even plugging in.
Honda R&D unveiled at the Japan Mobility Show Bizweek trade show that it’s helped to develop a technology for charging while driving, what the company is calling “dynamic wireless power transfer,” or DWPT. The charging equipment itself is actually embedded directly into the road surface.
The system was developed in conjunction with Taisei Corporation and Taisei Rotec. The companies plan to begin testing the system on public roads in Japan in spring 2027.
The system uses magnetic fields to transfer electricity from charging equipment embedded in the road to a receiver mounted on the vehicle. Honda is developing the charging hardware, Taisei Corporation is developing the power-supply system, and Taisei Rotec is working on how to incorporate the equipment into the road itself.
Honda says the system could reduce the need for EV drivers to stop at charging stations, while also allowing automakers to use smaller battery packs. The company is particularly interested in commercial vehicles, where eliminating charging stops could make a significant difference to fleet efficiency.
The system is reportedly being developed with potential power output of up to 150 kilowatts, says Auto Express out of the UK, with initial testing taking place at Taisei’s research facility in Fukushima Prefecture before moving to a public-road test on the Tateyama Expressway in Chiba.
There are some obvious engineering challenges to overcome. First, Honda and its partners will have to prove the equipment can withstand the repeated pounding of heavy vehicles, while also addressing electromagnetic safety. The report from Auto Express also says the initial testing will subject the system to the equivalent of roughly one million wheel loads, and the embedded equipment will have to withstand vehicles weighing around 20 tons.
The concept isn’t entirely new—several companies and governments have been experimenting with roads that wirelessly charge vehicles, including a wireless charging street in downtown Detroit—but Honda’s proposed public-road testing is yet another an important step toward determining whether the technology can work in the real world.
Publication : Autoweek
Author : Natalie Neff
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