Electric Truck Charges While Driving in First US Highway Test

A team of engineers from Purdue University, in collaboration with Cummins, has achieved a milestone in the United States by wirelessly charging a battery-electric Class 8 semi truck while travelling at highway speeds. The test utilised a patent-pending dynamic wireless power transfer system on a quarter-mile segment of US Highway 52/US Highway 231 in West Lafayette, Indiana.

The project, initially announced in April 2024, involved electrifying the road section with transmitter coils embedded beneath the pavement in dedicated lanes. These coils transferred power to receiver coils mounted under the truck. During tests conducted in the fall of 2025, the system successfully delivered 190 kW of power to the Cummins-provided electric semi truck at a speed of 65 miles per hour.

John Haddock, professor in Purdue’s Lyles School of Civil and Construction Engineering, highlighted two major hurdles to electric vehicle adoption: range anxiety and high costs associated with large battery packs needed for extended ranges. He explained that this technology could allow vehicles to charge while in motion, potentially enabling smaller batteries and reducing overall expenses.

The system’s design focuses on high-power requirements for heavy-duty vehicles, making it suitable for lighter electric vehicles as well. By using a single receiver coil on the tractor unit rather than multiple units, the approach aims to simplify implementation and lower infrastructure costs for broader electrified highways.

John Kresse, chief technology engineer at Cummins, noted the successful adaptation of a prototype battery-electric truck for the system. He described the on-road testing as effective due to close teamwork and stated that the technology offers a viable option for future commercial transportation with its power levels and cost potential.

Additional partners in the project included AECOM, White Construction, Inc., and PC Krause and Associates, Inc., contributing to various aspects of development and installation. The initiative aligns with efforts to advance sustainable transport solutions.

While similar dynamic wireless charging trials have occurred in Europe over the past decade, this demonstration marks the first in the US focused on highway speeds for heavy-duty trucks.

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