Siemens will build a stretch of electric highway on the A5 Autobahn in Germany to cater for electrified trucks.
Siemens’ system works in a similar way to trams and trains in various parts of the world with an overhead contact line providing power to the truck through a pantograph. The ribbon of electrified highway will stretch for 6.2 miles (10 km) in the German state of Hasse.
Early studies have shown that the e-highway will cut the energy consumed by the trucks in half and therefore reduce local air pollution.
In a statement, Siemens said, “With this field trial, the eHighway will be tested on a public highway in Germany for the first time. Siemens will be responsible for the planning, construction and, as an option, maintenance of the system. The system is being built as part of the joint project “Electrified, innovative heavy freight transport on autobahns” (ELISA) of Germany’s Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB).”
Note: Siemens pilot highway in Sweden pictured.