First Wireless Charging Road to Be Activated in Los Angeles to Support the 2028 Olympics | WPN World People News

California's first wireless charging road, enabling electric vehicles to charge while driving, is set to debut at UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). This innovative technology aims to provide shuttle services for the Olympic Village during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and is expected to significantly enhance charging efficiency and convenience for electric vehicles, driving the development of future transportation technology.

This technology operates on principles similar to wireless phone charging. Inductive devices are embedded beneath the road surface, allowing electric vehicles to charge automatically while driving, without stopping or using plug-in equipment. UCLA recently announced that the project has received approval from the California government, along with nearly $20 million in funding, for the construction of approximately 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) of wireless charging roadway. The plan also includes full electrification of the campus's public transportation system. The new facilities will feature two charging modes: the first allows charging while driving on designated charging lanes, and the second enables rapid charging at fixed parking spaces equipped with wireless charging functionality.

Clinton Bench, UCLA’s Transportation Director, noted that while charging efficiency is higher when vehicles park for a few minutes compared to charging while driving, both methods provide the same charging performance as conventional wired systems. This technology not only reduces the time drivers spend exiting vehicles to operate charging equipment but also helps distribute charging times, easing the burden on power grids during peak hours. Brief stops during the day can provide sufficient energy, reducing the need for nighttime charging and helping to avoid peak electricity demand during summer months.

The project, facilitated by the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA) in collaboration with Electreon, a wireless charging technology company, builds on the latter’s experience from constructing the first wireless charging road in the U.S. in Detroit last year. For the Los Angeles project, a roughly 1-mile underground wireless charging system will be installed in UCLA’s Westwood campus, covering Charles E. Young Drive and multiple campus bus stops.

Notably, UCLA’s Olympic Village also played a key role during the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. The 2028 Olympics will further showcase the innovative application of wireless charging. While the technology currently supports only electric buses equipped with wireless charging capabilities, Bench hopes to extend this innovation to more vehicle models in the future, ultimately achieving a vision where electric vehicles can efficiently charge even during traffic congestion.