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Sweden launches world premiere: The first electrified highway!
Sweden will open the first electrified E20 motorway in 2025, which will continuously charge electric cars while driving. Innovation project to reduce CO₂ emissions.
Sweden launches world premiere: The first electrified highway!
Sweden is future-oriented and has opened the world's first permanently electrified road. This innovative route on the E20 motorway stretches over 21 kilometers between Hallsberg and Örebro and allows electric vehicles and trucks to recharge their batteries while driving. Similar to a Carrera train, the vehicles can absorb energy and thus travel into the future in a more environmentally friendly way. The initiative is part of a comprehensive plan to make Sweden independent of fossil fuels by 2030, as the transport sector contributes around 30% of CO₂ emissions in Sweden. Road traffic accounts for the largest share, which underlines the need for such projects. az-online.de reports that Sweden has been experimenting with various “e-road” technologies for years to make road traffic more efficient.
What is done when converting the E20? The costs of around 2.7 million euros per kilometer are just the beginning. Those responsible also incur additional maintenance and modernization costs. The motorway, which connects Stockholm with Gothenburg and Malmö, is expected to be operational by 2025. The plan is to partially electrify 25% of the busiest roads in Europe, which could potentially reduce the actual batteries of electric cars by a third. Ourcommonfuture.de points out that there are challenges, such as a lack of cross-border standards and the petrol-powered infrastructure that has to adapt to change.
Innovative technology for the future
Two main technologies are in focus for implementation: conductive and inductive charging. While conductive systems are robust and require physical contact, inductive technologies offer wireless charging using electromagnetic fields. Inductive technology is now seen as the preferred solution for testing. No wonder, because it could eliminate drivers' range anxiety and enable smaller vehicle batteries, which is a plus for many. Switchover.de offers further information on how inductive charging works and illustrates the advantages for using electric vehicles on long journeys.
But Sweden still has big plans: by 2045, the e-road network is expected to grow to around 3,000 kilometers and be built primarily along heavily frequented routes. On this route, drivers could benefit from continuous charging while driving and save themselves the trouble of searching for charging stations. The project could not only revolutionize the use of electric cars, but also set international standards. Of course, technical and financial hurdles must be overcome and questions about vehicle compatibility are crucial.
With this groundbreaking initiative, Sweden not only aims to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable transport policy, but also aims to act as an international role model for other countries. Current developments show that Sweden has a good hand when it comes to innovative solutions for the future.