The Trafikverket agency, which is responsible for the transportation of the country, is planning to electrify a section of the E20 road between Hallsberg and rebro. This route connects the two biggest cities in the country, Gothenburg and Stockholm. If you’re tired after this type a long trip, you can have a rest at one of the many Swedish motels on the road or try your luck gambling at a fruit shop slot machine.
The goal of the project is to provide electric vehicle and truck owners with a convenient way to recharge. It’s expected to be completed by 2026.
The infrastructure for electric cars must be updated to accommodate their use on the road. Some of the factors that have to be considered when building roads for this type of vehicle include having enough room for their wider tires and the added weight of their batteries.
The roads should be re-surfaced to give them a better grip. They should also be smooth and have flat surfaces to reduce the likelihood of skidding. In addition, the routes should have sufficient lighting to allow the vehicles to be seen in the dark.
How is it going to work?
The agency is still in the process of choosing a technology that will be used to build the electric road system.
1. Air conductive
The preferred technology involves air-conducting, which means that the energy collected from overhead wires is transferred to the vehicle through a pantograph. This tech is only suitable for heavy vehicles and can be reached to power lines at a height.
2. Ground Conducted
The energy collected by this technology is transported along special tracks or rails, and the electric cars are charged using mechanical levers or sticks.
3. Ground Inductive
The energy collected by this technology comes from the coils that are placed into the road.
Why Electric Roads
Trafikverket tested the three different technologies in various locations in Sweden, including Gotland, Sandviken, and Lund.
The studies conducted by the agency revealed that the use of electric roads could help cut down on the emissions of heavy vehicles by about 1.2 million tons by 2030.
In 2018, Sweden launched a trial program that involved the testing of a charging road for electric cars. It also included a 2-kilometer route connecting an area in Rosenberg and Stockholm-Arlanda Airport.
The government then announced that it would build a 2,000-kilometer electric road system by 2020. It also proposed to ban the sale of new fossil fuel vehicles.
The goal of the project is to make the use of electric roads more convenient and encourage the adoption of this technology.
A study carried out by Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg revealed that electric roads could help reduce electricity consumption during peak times.
The researchers noted that by implementing a combination of static and dynamic charging, the battery size of electric cars could be reduced by up to 70%. This would make them more affordable for consumers.
One of the main arguments against the use of electric roads is their high cost. In the long run, they might become obsolete due to the rapid development of batteries.
A study conducted by the researchers concluded that the risk of electric roads becoming obsolete is low. They estimated that only 25% of Europe and Sweden’s roads would need to be electrified to operate.
The technology is currently being tested in different European nations, such as the UK, France, Germany and Italy. The interconnected nature of the continent’s transportation systems will make electric roads more viable.
Logistic Matters
One of the biggest issues that will affect the implementation of electric roads is the logistics industry. Due to the lack of green fuel in many countries, the green policies of European policymakers have slowed down. It is also hard to see how major companies such as Vlantana or Girteka would be able to use electric trucks.
One of the biggest problems that logistics industry professionals face when implementing electric roads is frequent repairs on roads. This issue will make the logistics process more inefficient. Despite this, the concept of using electric roads is still very interesting.
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