Electrified roadway systems with wireless power transfer for electric mobility: Research perspectives, gaps, and recommendations

Electrified Road System (ERS) with inductive coupling power transfer (ICPT) can provide a continuous supply of electricity wirelessly while maintaining the mobility of electric vehicles (EVs). This paper systematically synthesizes the current state of ERS with ICPT, identifies research gaps, and proposes a research roadmap. It first summarizes techno-economic assessments of ERS relative to alternative technologies, and then delves into implementation challenges in design, construction, and maintenance of electrified pavements for charging efficiency and infrastructure durability with findings from pilot projects. Finally, life cycle analysis is discussed for potential cost savings and environmental benefits of ERS. The identified gaps include economic feasibility analysis under various scenarios, integration with existing charging infrastructure, coupled thermo-mechanical-electrical models, and lack of standardized protocols. Recommendations are provided for future development of ERS, including optimized site selection at both network and project levels, validated multi-physics design, and comprehensive life cycle analysis to support scalable deployment of ERS.