With the most recent EU regulation requiring zero CO2 emissions from automobiles starting in 2035, European nations are scrambling to set up the infrastructure (electrified road) required for the mobility of electric vehicles (EVs). In terms of sustainability requirements and the adoption of renewable energy, Sweden is appropriately upholding its pioneering reputation.
After a number of trial projects, Sweden disclosed intentions to construct countrywide electrified roadways. The European Route E20, a 21-kilometer highway connecting the logistical centres of Hallsberg and Rebro in the middle of the country’s three largest cities—Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö—was designated by the Swedish Transport Administration, Trafikverket. The electric road system (ERS), which is now undergoing final planning and procurement, is anticipated to be finished and open to the public by 2025 or 2026.
We think the electrification solution is the way forward for decarbonising the transport sector and we are working with a number of solutions.
Jan Pettersson, Director of Strategic Development at Trafikverket, the Swedish transport administration for Euronews.
There are three different charging systems: catenary system, conductive (ground-based) system, and inductive system. The charging technique for E20 has not yet been chosen. A tram-like vehicle that can be powered by overhead power lines or an electric rail system that delivers electricity to an electric vehicle through a conductive pickup underneath the automobile might both be installed on the freeway, according to Trafikverket. Another choice is an inductive system, which charges the battery using electromagnetic coils placed in the electrified road.
The viability and efficacy of the technology have been examined in Sweden through a number of pilot projects under the direction of Trafikverket. One noteworthy initiative is the eRoadArlanda, a 2-kilometer length of road where EVs with collectors could charge while driving. It is situated close to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport. On the island of Gotland, a different pilot project known as Smartroad Gotland investigated the use of inductive charging technology on a road section of around 1.6 kilometers. By 2030, it is predicted that the electrification of the road system linking important cities would have cut heavy-duty vehicle emissions by 1.2 million tonnes.
Electric roadways are designed to overcome EV drawbacks including short battery life and the requirement for frequent infrastructure for recharge. In order to enable vehicle charging while driving, the idea entails directly integrating electric charging infrastructure into the road surface. The need of conventional charging stations might be lessened and the range of electric vehicles might be increased thanks to this technology. Sweden has teamed up with Germany and France to exchange knowledge through authority and research agreements on electric roads, with hopes to have an additional 3,000 km of electrified roads by 2045.