Imagine driving an electric vehicle (EV) without ever worrying about stopping to charge. For most EV owners, this might sound like a distant dream. But thanks to a team of engineers at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), this idea may be closer to reality than we think.
As EVs become a staple of modern transportation, with projections of 7.2 million annual EV sales by 2030, a key challenge remains: charging them efficiently and conveniently. Enter the concept of Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) roadways—an ambitious project that aims to let EVs charge while driving, eliminating the need to stop at charging stations.
Tackling Range Anxiety
Range anxiety is the EV owner’s version of running out of gas on a lonely stretch of highway—the fear that the vehicle will lose power before reaching the next charging point. Today, most EVs rely on either home charging stations or public chargers, both of which have limitations. Residential chargers are often slow and put a strain on household electricity, while public stations can be hard to find and inconvenient. Without a robust solution, this charging bottleneck could slow down the broader adoption of EVs.
That’s where the UTEP research team comes in. Led by electrical and computer engineering professor Paras Mandal, Ph.D., the team has created a model to predict how DWPT roadways will impact the electrical grid. Their research could pave the way for a future where EVs seamlessly charge while in motion.
What Is a DWPT Roadway?
A DWPT roadway works by embedding transmitter pads within the road surface. As an EV drives over these pads, the vehicle wirelessly receives power, much like how a smartphone charges wirelessly on a pad. But unlike a phone sitting still, EVs will be moving at highway speeds, creating a complex set of challenges that Mandal’s team is addressing.
“The field of electrified transportation is evolving, and modeling the load demand on our electrical grid is a significant part of that work,” Mandal explained. His team’s research goes beyond the technology of the roadway itself, diving into how this new infrastructure will interact with existing power utilities to ensure stability and sustainability.
The Math Behind the Magic
One of the biggest challenges with DWPT roadways is understanding how much load they will place on the electrical grid under real-world conditions. Different road lengths, vehicle types, and traffic densities can drastically change the energy demand. To solve this problem, Mandal’s team developed a method called modified Toeplitz convolution, or mCONV.
This advanced mathematical approach allows the engineers to predict dynamic load demand while considering multiple variables—from traffic patterns to vehicle energy consumption. The model offers a comprehensive picture of what utilities and local governments will need to handle as DWPT roadways are implemented.
Why This Research Matters
The stakes are high. Successfully implementing DWPT could revolutionize how we think about transportation infrastructure, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and cutting down on pollution and noise. But for the technology to work, engineers, power companies, and policymakers need data to make informed decisions.
“Our research ensures that future EV charging methods won’t just be innovative—they’ll be practical and scalable,” Mandal said.
Kenith Meissner, Ph.D., dean of UTEP’s College of Engineering, added, “This new model will help local and state authorities, as well as utilities, understand what’s involved in implementing DWPT roadways, literally paving the way for more widespread adoption of electric vehicles.”
What’s Next for DWPT?
The work doesn’t stop with modeling. Mandal’s team is now focused on studying how DWPT systems will affect power grid stability and reliability. The project is part of the larger ASPIRE group—an NSF Engineering Research Center involving several universities, including Utah State University and Purdue University—which aims to develop sustainable, powered roadways on a global scale.
With the right data and planning, DWPT roadways could transform long-distance EV travel and drastically reduce range anxiety. Instead of searching for charging stations, EV owners could enjoy a seamless, uninterrupted drive—power flowing beneath their tires without a second thought.
As Mandal’s research progresses, the dream of “charging as you go” inches closer to becoming an everyday reality on highways worldwide.
Source: UTEP Engineers Model Electric Grid Demand for EVs to Charge While in Motion