France Activates World's First Wireless EV Charging Highway Near Paris

Pioneering 'Charge as you Drive' Project Launched

France has officially activated the world's first public highway designed to wirelessly charge electric vehicles (EVs) as they drive. This groundbreaking 1.5-kilometer stretch of road, part of the A10 motorway southwest of Paris near Angervilliers, represents a significant leap forward in electric mobility infrastructure. The 'Charge as you Drive' project allows various types of electric vehicles, including cars, buses, and heavy-duty trucks, to recharge their batteries without needing to stop or plug in.

The initiative, which became operational in early November 2025, is a collaborative effort led by VINCI Autoroutes, France's largest toll road operator. Key partners include Israeli technology firm Electreon, VINCI Construction, Gustave Eiffel University, and Hutchinson. Bpifrance, the French public sector investment bank, and France's Ministry of Transport have also played crucial roles in supporting the project.

Advanced Inductive Charging Technology

The system utilizes advanced inductive charging technology, where copper coils are embedded beneath the asphalt surface of the road. These coils generate a magnetic field that wirelessly transfers electrical energy to compatible vehicles equipped with special receiver pads on their undercarriage. Independent verification by laboratories at Gustave Eiffel University has confirmed the system's robust performance.

The wireless charging highway is capable of delivering a continuous power of more than 200 kilowatts (kW), with peak power reaching up to 300 kW. This output is comparable to some of the fastest stationary chargers available today, such as Tesla's V3 Supercharger. The technology is designed to function reliably in diverse weather conditions, including rain, ice, and snow, due to its reliance on electromagnetic induction rather than physical contact.

Impact on Electric Vehicle Adoption and Sustainability Goals

This pioneering project aims to address several key challenges associated with electric vehicle adoption, particularly 'range anxiety' and the need for large, heavy batteries. By enabling continuous charging while in motion, the technology could lead to:

• Reduced battery sizes and weights in EVs, potentially lowering manufacturing costs and resource consumption.
• Elimination of frequent charging stops, making long-distance EV travel more convenient and efficient.
• Significant reductions in CO2 emissions from road transport, especially for heavy-duty freight, which accounts for a substantial portion of transport emissions.

The French Ministry of Transport has ambitious plans to deploy approximately 9,000 kilometers of wireless charging roads across the country by 2035, with this pilot serving as a crucial step towards that goal. The success of the 'Charge as you Drive' project is expected to provide valuable real-world data on performance, reliability, and maintenance, paving the way for broader implementation across France and potentially Europe.