Honda is rethinking its electric vehicle strategy by testing wireless EV charging that could allow vehicles to recharge while driving. The Japanese automaker and general contractor Taisei are leading a team that plans to test the technology on expressways as early as late 2027 or later.
Honda’s Wireless EV Charging Plan
As automakers adjust their EV strategies, Honda is focusing on the usability and cost of future electric vehicles. The company is testing technology that could potentially allow EVs to use smaller batteries while receiving electric power on the road.
Nikkei Asia reports that Honda and Taisei are working with a team to test wireless charging on expressways. The project is intended to determine the feasibility and true cost of the proposed charging system.
Using smaller batteries could lower EV manufacturing costs and, in turn, retail prices. Honda sees that possibility as a way to make electric vehicles more appealing to buyers.
Taku Ueda, Honda R&D chief engineer and head of the project, said the team is taking on the challenge of building next-generation social infrastructure and will further expand the possibilities of EV motoring.
How Honda’s Wireless EV Charging Technology Works
Honda and Taisei have also presented how the proposed wireless charging system would operate. In an ideal scenario, the technology would be embedded beneath the road surface of expressways, allowing it to send an electric charge to vehicles traveling above it.
The report says the technology would be usable at speeds of up to 120 kph (74 mph), which is Japan’s speed limit. Durability is another key consideration, with stakeholders seeking a system that could remain embedded in roads long enough to require maintenance every 10 years.
Where the Technology Could Be Used
The group acknowledges that installing wireless charging technology across the entire Japanese road network would be unrealistic and costly. As a result, the project will determine which sections of the road network should receive the technology.
Initially, the project will focus on commercial vehicles used for transportation and logistics. Testing is expected to begin on expressways as early as late 2027 or later, as Honda and its partners evaluate whether the wireless charging concept can work in practice.
