2026: Deployment-Ready Pavement-Embedded Dynamic Wireless Charging for Electrified Vehicles
This project aims to advance a new form of wireless charging for electric vehicles that can be embedded directly into roadways. Unlike conventional inductive charging systems, which rely on bulky magnetic components, the team has developed a smaller, lower-cost electric-field-based capacitive wireless charging system. Researchers will design and test an 11-kW pavement-integrated charging system capable of high power transfer efficiency while meeting safety and electromagnetic interference standards. The project will also research specialized pavement materials and crack-healing technologies to improve durability and reduce energy losses under real-world driving conditions. In collaboration with Cornell Facilities, the system will be deployed and evaluated on campus. If successful, the technology could reduce the need for large onboard batteries, lower EV costs, minimize charging downtime, and support broader adoption of electric transportation with significant reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Investigators: Khurram Khan Afridi (Cornell Duffield Engineering/Electrical and Computer Engineering), Sriramya Nair (Cornell Duffield Engineering/Civil and Environmental Engineering)