A comparative review study on the electrified road structures: performances, sustainability, and prospects

Abstract

The electrified road (eRoad) technology, which allows for delivering electrical power to electric vehicles (EVs) in motion, has been under active development as a novel charging solution, with a great potential to eliminate EV's range anxiety and to reduce the battery dependency. Three promising eRoad technologies, including pantograph, conductive rail, and the inductive power transfer (IPT), have gained momentum. In this review, the following studies are performed: (1) a comparative analysis of the three eRoad technologies is made by focusing on the working principles, performances as well as technology readiness levels (TRLs). (2) From the perspective of road infrastructure, the potential structural compatibility issues are extensively discussed; the recommendations and emerging research needs, which could improve the eRoads’ service lifetime, are further presented. (3) Life cycle sustainability potential for the three eRoad solutions are comparably analyzed, emphasizing as well the importance of integrating eRoad infrastructure into the full life cycle assessment on the use of EVs for clean transport. (4) In the context of the drastic development of smart road systems, potential synergistic development of eRoad with other novel technologies is envisioned.