Purdue University researchers win IEEE award for highway charging technology
Purdue University researchers win IEEE award for highway charging technology
A team of Purdue University researchers has received the Technology Innovation Award at the 2025 IEEE PES Energy and Policy Forum Innovation Showcase for their work on Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT). The technology allows electric vehicles to receive power directly from the roadway while in motion, potentially transforming how we approach charging electric vehicles (EVs).
"I am proud of the fact that it is a design that was conceptualized in its entirety from our team at Purdue consisting of many amazing students, staff, and faculty members from a multitude of engineering disciplines," explained Dionysios Aliprantis, professor in the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, who is part of the research team.
Aliprantis has disclosed several innovations to the Purdue Innovates Office of Technology Commercialization, which has applied for patents to protect the intellectual property.
Electrifying Highways: Beyond Traditional EV Charging
The DWPT technology aims to solve a fundamental challenge in electrifying transportation: how to extend the range of electric vehicles without requiring larger batteries or frequent stops for charging.
While the technology has applications for all vehicle classes, the research team strategically focused on heavy-duty vehicles first.
"One key aspect of our design is that it is suitable for high power levels (greater than 200 kW), which meets the power needs of heavy-duty trucks and ensures the financial feasibility of electric roadways," Aliprantis noted. "Even though we designed for trucks, our system is also interoperable with receivers for lower power levels, making it suitable for medium- and light-duty vehicles as well."
This approach addresses one of transportation's most challenging sectors to electrify due to weight and range requirements. With smaller batteries needed, trucks could increase cargo capacity while significantly reducing operating costs.
“At the same time, it can help lower the total cost of ownership for truck fleet operators, thereby leading to an overall better and more efficient transportation system," Aliprantis added.
Economic analysis conducted by the team suggests the technology could be financially viable with a breakeven energy cost of 32¢/kWh compared to diesel trucks. Their research indicates that electrifying just 3% of the road network—primarily major corridors—could support widespread electric vehicle adoption while minimizing infrastructure costs.
How the Technology Works
The DWPT system operates through transmitter coils embedded in the pavement that create magnetic fields, transferring power wirelessly to receiver coils attached to a vehicle's underside. This allows vehicles to receive power while driving at highway speeds without stopping.
A quarter-mile test bed is currently under construction on U.S. 231 in West Lafayette, with testing scheduled for July 2025. The test section features 85 uniformly placed transmitter coils energized by high-power inverters.
The test bed will be used with a Cummins Class-8 semi-truck that has been retrofitted with the DWPT receiver system. Cummins, an Indiana-based manufacturer of heavy-duty engines and power systems, has been collaborating with the Purdue team to integrate the receiver technology with the vehicle's existing battery management system.
A Cross-Sector Effort: Industry, Academia, and State
The project represents a significant partnership between Purdue University, the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT), Cummins Inc., and the Advancing Sustainability through Powered Infrastructure for Roadway Electrification (ASPIRE) Engineering Research Center.
"INDOT is proud to support and host a world-class model of innovative transportation technology here in the Crossroads of America," said INDOT Commissioner Lyndsay Quist. "This concept has progressed from the lab to real-world testing on a section of state highway, which would not be possible without a network of partnerships across the state, both with Purdue University and Indiana-based businesses."
The cross-sector collaboration has been essential to moving the technology from concept to reality.
"I'm most proud of how the Purdue ASPIRE pilot team—spanning academia, public agencies, and private sector leaders—has built a shared innovation culture across disciplines and sectors," observed Don Linford, director of innovation at ASPIRE.
From Pilot to Highway: What's Ahead for DWPT
The IEEE PES Energy and Policy Forum Innovation Showcase award recognizes the project's potential to transform transportation electrification, but for the team, this is just the beginning of wider implementation.
"This recognition will help incentivize additional pilot deployments by demonstrating the value of early lessons learned, which will help drive down costs and improve efficiency for future implementations," Linford elaborated.
The immediate focus remains on upcoming tests and moving toward commercial viability. "We are excited about the testing that will take place in the summer and fall with the Cummins vehicle, which we are equipping with our receiver unit and power electronic components," Aliprantis said. The team is also working on demonstrating interoperability—ensuring systems work seamlessly across different vehicle types—while reducing capital costs and developing industry standards.
As electric vehicles become increasingly important in efforts to reduce transportation emissions, the Purdue team's award-winning work demonstrates how targeted research and cross-sector collaboration can create viable, scalable solutions for fleet electrification and corridor deployment across the country.
Source: Purdue University researchers win IEEE award for highway charging technology