The FIAT 500 has tested the electrified track at the Arena del Futuro circuit in Italy

For some time now we have been reading and hearing about electrified roads. These will feature elements that will supply electricity to electric vehicles while they are driving. Several approaches have been planned to do this. Some companies have opted for overhead cables, like those used on trains and trams, while others have chosen a lane with a device that picks up the electricity supplied from the ground.

This is the method used at the Arena del Futuro circuit in Italy. This project was born from a collaboration between Stellantis and the company A35 Brebemi, a subsidiary of the Mexican company Aleatica. Several universities, Italian institutions and research centres have also taken part.

An innovative track

The track is 1,050 metres long. It allows the FIAT 500’s battery to recharge while it drives along the track. To do this, it uses a system of coils located beneath the asphalt. These are powered with energy of 1 MW, which allows fast charging sufficient for several vehicles at the same time. And all of this without the need for cables or posts to recharge the battery.

This system is known by the acronym DWPT, from its English name. The FIAT 500 used as the test vehicle drove at speeds similar to those used on motorways and highways. During these tests, the car received considerable energy to drive normally. It also did not need to use the energy stored in its battery.

This means that the range was not reduced while it drove along the track, since no energy was consumed during the test. The test shows that this type of road could help increase the range of electric vehicles, since there would be no drain on the battery’s energy and it could return energy once it leaves the electrified road.

The charging power is similar to that offered by fast chargers, and electromagnetic emissions have been measured so that they pose no risk to users. The electricity used is direct current, so there is less power loss, and lighter and cheaper aluminium cables can be used rather than the copper used for alternating current. The electricity, by the way, comes from renewable sources, which increases the sustainability of the test facilities.