Episode Summary In this episode of Transition to Zero, host Jared Schnader sits down with Stefan Tongur of Electreon to explore how wireless charging is reshaping the future of electric transportation. The conversation revisits Electreon's core breakthrough—wireless charging embedded directly into roadways—and explains how charging can occur not only when vehicles are parked, but also while they are in motion. This approach directly addresses persistent barriers to EV adoption, including range anxiety, long charging times, grid constraints, and the high cost of oversized batteries.
Stefan shares updates on Electreon's progress since their last appearance, highlighting the shift from technology validation to real-world commercialization. Key pilot projects in Michigan and Utah demonstrate over 99% reliability, successful energy transfer at scale, and growing collaboration with state DOTs, universities, utilities, and industry partners. These projects prove that electric roads can be deployed within existing permitting and construction processes, making them viable for U.S. infrastructure.
A major focus of the discussion is the business case for wireless charging roads. By turning existing roadways into revenue-generating assets, states and municipalities can potentially offset declining gas-tax revenues while reducing the need for massive charging depots and land-intensive megawatt chargers. International examples—particularly in France—show how toll-road operators can use electric roads to support heavy-duty trucks, reduce required charging space, and enable smaller, lower-cost vehicle batteries.
The episode also dives into the UCLA wireless charging project, a flagship U.S. deployment that brings together transit buses, multiple regional transit agencies, and future applications such as autonomous vehicles and shared mobility. By treating charging infrastructure as a shared platform rather than isolated assets, the UCLA project illustrates how wireless charging can unlock longer vehicle uptime, lower total cost of ownership, and more resilient grid operations—offering a glimpse of what scalable, seamless electrification could look like nationwide.
Key Takeaways -
Wireless charging can occur while vehicles are parked or in motion, eliminating downtime and range anxiety.
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Pilot projects in Michigan and Utah demonstrate high reliability and real-world feasibility within existing road construction processes.
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Electric roads can become revenue-generating infrastructure, helping replace gas-tax income and reduce land use for charging depots.
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International deployments, especially in France, show strong potential for heavy-duty trucking and toll-road business models.
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The UCLA project serves as a living lab for shared charging infrastructure across multiple transit agencies and future autonomous fleets.
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Wireless charging enables smaller batteries, lower vehicle costs, and higher fleet utilization, benefiting operators, utilities, and communities.
Links & Resources -
Electreon – Wireless charging for electric vehicles: https://www.electreon.com
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CALSTART – National nonprofit focused on transportation decarbonization: https://calstart.org
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Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) – Partner on electric road pilot projects: https://www.michigan.gov/mdot
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Utah Inland Port & Utah State University – Partners on dynamic wireless charging pilots: https://inlandportauthority.utah.gov | https://www.usu.edu
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SAE International – J2954/3 Wireless Power Transfer Standard: https://www.sae.org
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UCLA Transportation Services – Transit and sustainability initiatives: https://transportation.ucla.edu
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VINCI Autoroutes (France) – Toll-road operator involved in electric road pilots: https://www.vinci-autoroutes.com
Podcast: Transition to Zero
Guest: Stefan Tongur, Electreon
Host: Jared Schnader
37 min