Honda Wants Roads That Charge Your EV While You Drive

Imagine never pulling into a charging station on a long trip. Honda, Taisei, and Taisei Rotec have developed technology that can wirelessly charge electric vehicles, including heavy trucks, while they are moving, with highway trials planned in Japan from fiscal 2027.

How It Works
The system embeds wireless power-transfer units beneath the road surface. As an EV drives over them, magnetic coupling transfers electricity from the road to a receiver on the vehicle, reducing the need to stop and plug in.

Honda supplies the road-embedded transmitters and vehicle receivers, while Taisei contributes a fast-responding DC power supply and Taisei Rotec develops the pavement installation methods. Honda says its unit combines the inverter and coil in one housing, simplifying installation and requiring less roadwork.

Built for Trucks First
The initial focus is logistics and large commercial vehicles. Testing has already shown that the road units and pavement can support vehicles weighing around 20 tonnes.

The partners aim to verify power output of up to 150 kW for heavy trucks, along with reliable charging at highway speeds.

What Happens Next
Late 2026: A new test track at Taisei’s Tamura facility will undergo durability testing equivalent to one million wheel passes at 49 kN each, plus electromagnetic-field leakage checks.

Fiscal 2027 or later: The companies plan public-road demonstrations through the Tateyama Project on the Tateyama Expressway in Chiba Prefecture.

Beyond testing: The technology could eventually make long-distance electric trucking more practical by cutting charging stops and downtime.

Why It Matters
Road-embedded charging could change how fleets and everyday drivers think about EV range. Instead of planning trips around charging stations, vehicles could top up continuously while traveling, though cost, durability, and real-world performance still need to be proven before widespread rollout.

Would you drive on a road that charges your EV as you go?