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In Sweden, testing the electric road
Last reviewed: 16.05.2018
In Sweden, just a few days ago, a test plot of a 2-kilometer-long electric road was opened, where electric cars could be connected to an air-grid system similar to that used for light rail transport. The electric road is located in the Swedish town of Sendviken on the E16 highway.
Sweden is the country that was one of the first to decide to test electric roads, mainly such coatings are intended for trucks with a hybrid engine. The Swedish government intends to switch completely to electric transport within 15-20 years.
The electrical system of roads is similar to light rail and allows trucks to work on a similar road for electricity, which is usually used in electric cars, on an ordinary road segment an internal combustion engine (i.e., a hybrid vehicle) is connected.
Cargo hybrid cars on the section of the electric road use energy, which is produced by a pantograph (a current collector on electric locomotives) connecting to the system of the air electric network. One of the obvious advantages of the motorway is the use of cars for clean energy and reducing harmful emissions into the atmosphere. In addition, on such a stretch of the road there is no need to stop for recharging.
According to one representative of the company for the electrification of roads, such a system will allow to significantly save on fuel in the future, and the widespread use of electric roads will allow to completely abandon fossil fuels and achieve zero emissions into the atmosphere of carbon dioxide. The general director of the department of transport management Lena Erikson noted that the electric roads will allow developing ecologically smart cars in the already used road network, and will also help to supplement the current railways.
The aerial network rises above the road by more than 5 meters, a current collector is placed on the roof of the lorry, supplying a 750-volt electrical power system to the hybrid electrical system, the electrical conductor is automatically connected to the air network at a speed of 90 km / h. Also on the test section of the electric road there are tables for supporting electric lines above the lane, the distance between them is 60 meters.
The test period of the new electric road will last 2 years, as a result, data on the operation of such a road system will be recorded and opportunities for wide use of this technology will be considered in the future.
The Swedish government intends to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used and in 15-20 years it is planned to completely switch to electric vehicles - it is for this purpose that a new experiment with electric roads is based. In addition, the transition to electric transport will allow Sweden to become more competitive.
The new project is financed by the Swedish department for transport management, the energy agency. Participation in the investment project was taken by Siemens and Scania, which also developed a conductive technology.