Honda plans highway trials for wireless truck charging

Japanese automaker Honda Motor has developed a wireless charging system that could allow electric vehicles, including heavy trucks, to recharge while travelling on roads.

The company plans to conduct tests of the technology on a Japanese highway.

Honda said the trials will be carried out in partnership with construction company Taisei and road builder Taisei Rotec. The testing is expected to begin in the financial year starting April 2027 or later.

The technology, developed by Honda Research and Development and Taisei Rotec, uses charging equipment installed beneath the road surface to transfer electricity to vehicles as they move. The system could reduce the need for electric trucks to make frequent stops at charging stations.

According to technology.com, the system uses magnetic coupling to transmit power to moving electric vehicles, with logistics trucks among its main targets.

It consists of three key components: a DC power source, a power-transmitting unit embedded in the road and a receiver fitted underneath the vehicle.

Honda could begin initial trials as early as late 2026, followed by public demonstrations from April 2027.

However, a Honda engineer said the company has yet to determine how the costs of the technology would compare with conventional high-speed charging infrastructure, adding that its economic feasibility still needs to be evaluated.