France Launches World’s First Highway That Charges Electric Vehicles While They Drive

Ноябрь 4, 2025
10:09 дп
In This Article

France has launched the world’s first dynamic induction charging highway—capable of wirelessly delivering more power than a Tesla Supercharger—marking a major step toward decarbonizing heavy transport. The nearly one-mile (1.5-kilometer) stretch of the A10 motorway southwest of Paris, equipped by Israeli company Electreon, allows electric vehicles to charge while in motion, offering a potential solution to one of the biggest challenges in electric mobility: charging downtime.

A Leap in Charging Technology

Unlike earlier experiments limited to test tracks, the A10 system is fully integrated into a public highway with live traffic. Tests conducted by three laboratories at Gustave Eiffel University confirmed that the in-road coils can safely deliver over 300 kilowatts (kW) of peak power and sustain more than 200 kW on average.

For comparison, the Tesla Supercharger V3—the most common DC fast charger in the United States—offers 250 kW, while the newer V4 model can reach up to 325 kW under ideal conditions. The French system, however, achieves similar power dynamically, without requiring vehicles to stop.

Four vehicles currently use the A10 pilot lane: a heavy truck, a utility van, a passenger car, and a bus. The test results suggest that the technology could drastically reduce the need for massive truck batteries and long charging stops—two barriers that have hindered freight electrification.

From Experiment to Scalable Solution

Nicolas Notebaert, CEO of VINCI Concessions and President of VINCI Autoroutes, said the results validate years of research and could reshape France’s decarbonization strategy.

“Deploying this technology on France’s main road networks, in addition to charging stations, will further accelerate the electrification of heavy-vehicle fleets—and thereby reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the freight and logistics sector, which alone accounts for more than 16% of the country’s total emissions,” he said.

The project’s durability has also been tested under real-world conditions. Engineers involved in the consortium—led by VINCI Autoroutes in partnership with Electreon—say the pavement can withstand decades of wear and tear while maintaining inductive efficiency.

Heavy Transport, Light Batteries

Dynamic charging offers significant benefits for the freight sector. By charging while driving, heavy trucks could rely on smaller batteries, reducing weight, cost, and dependency on critical minerals such as lithium and nickel. This could make electric freight vehicles more economically viable and environmentally sustainable, particularly on Europe’s busiest transport corridors.

However, the infrastructure demands are substantial. Embedding charging coils beneath long stretches of motorway involves complex installation and materials use. Policymakers and industry leaders will need to weigh the environmental trade-offs and capital costs against the long-term emissions benefits.

A New Benchmark in Sustainable Mobility

France joins a growing list of countries experimenting with in-road wireless charging, including the United States, Germany, Norway, China, and Israel. Yet the A10 motorway is the first operational example on a major highway—transforming what was once a laboratory experiment into a real-world mobility solution.

If successful, this project could position France as a leader in transport electrification ahead of the EU’s 2035 phase-out of new combustion engine vehicles. It also demonstrates how public-private innovation can close the infrastructure gap for heavy-duty decarbonization—a sector long considered one of the hardest to electrify.

Inquire to Join our Government Edition Newsletter (SDG News Insider)