Electrial roads

In co-operation with a number of partners Robotdalen has been granted 4 million SEK from the Swedish Energy Agency for the project "Electrical roads." The project investigates the possibility to connect heavy vehicles to contact wires thus having them run on electric power instead of internal combustion engines. That would mean large energy efficiencies, with reduced carbon emissions as a result.

The project is part of the Swedish Energy Agency's strategic research and innovation programme aiming at developing solutions for the future when it comes to transportations on roads as well as for the Swedish automotive industry.

Setting up contact wires and electrifying major road, similar to when the railway was electrified, could gain great and quick societal profits with relatively small financial investments.

The idea is to provide heavy vehicles, such as trucks and buses, with devices that are automatically connected and disconnected to an electrical infrastructure while driving. This has an impact on the environment through reduced need for energy, carbon emissions and fossil fuel dependence.

The project investigates what technology would be best suited for the transmission of electricity, including a system capable of connection and disconnection to the electrical infrastructure at a speed of 80 km/h. The project will result in a virtual prototype. 

Apart from Robotdalen the following partners are involved in the project: Swedish Electrical Roads, the Swedish Transport Administration, Volvo Powertrain Corporation AB, Scania CV AB, Balfour Beatty Rail AB, ELFORSK AB, Mälardalen University and BAE Systems Hägglunds AB.