The first UK trials of fully dynamic electric vehicle (EV) inductive charging could start this summer.
TRL is due to present Highways England with the results from a feasibility study on installing continuous power transfer within road surfaces .
Meanwhile, Transport for London plans October trials of semi-dynamic charging on four Alexander Dennis double-decker diesel electric buses plying route 69 between two garages.
The buses will park on inductive plates at route-end turnarounds - a halfway house to fully dynamic charging.
The trials for Highways England, of in and near-market technologies identified from global research could run for 12 months on private circuits, paving the way for potential on-road motorway demonstrations in 2016.
TRL’s head of low carbon vehicles Denis Naberezhnykh told Transport Network: ‘At least two systems could be tested.'
He declined to give names; but global activity levels suggest a strong field.
Transport Network understands that German specialists are already in talks with engineering consultancy Arup, which implemented a system of bus charging in Milton Keynes in 2014.
California-based mobile technology developer Qualcomm has also trialled semi-dynamic charging in London and is pursuing fully-dynamic concepts globally.
A Highways Agency spokesman said: ‘We understand the feasibility report is nearing completion and an announcement could come soon but nothing has been confirmed.’
Expertise is also coming from the European FABRIC (FeAsiBility analysis and development of on-road Charging solutions for future electric vehicles) project, where TRL leads on technology development.
The company stresses that the aim is to complement, not replace, plug-in charging. This will expand EV take up by overcoming range anxiety issues, so opening up scope for HGVs and long-distance coaches as well as cars and buses.
It will use a system from another German company, IPT Technology, which powers the Milton Keynes operation.
This article was updated as the initial copy said the trials were confirmed – this is not the case and Transport Network apologises for the misunderstanding.
