Michigan is not only home to the Motor City but also a growing electrified commercial vehicle and technology market. Case in point: a just-announced public-private partnership with Electreon and Xos to expand Detroit's wireless electric roadway -- the nation's first -- for electrified delivery vehicles.
The State of Michigan has confirmed a new agreement with Electreon (ELWS) and Xos (XOS), specialists in wireless EV charging and commercial EVs, respectively, to continue the expansion of this wireless EV charging network. Electreon previously deployed wireless charging infrastructure at the Michigan Central Innovation District in Detroit's Corktown neighborhood exactly one year ago.
The deal, in part, calls for Electreon's wireless charging tech to be integrated into a demonstration Xos Stepvan which will then utilize newly installed stationary wireless charging at a Detroit-area UPS facility. Wireless charging is exactly as described -- cable-free, and the vehicle will simply charge overnight.
[Related: InductEV, BetterFleet expanding wireless fleet charging]
“This new partnership with Electreon and Xos builds on the success of the nation’s first public EV-charging roadway,” said Justine Johnson, chief mobility officer for the State of Michigan. “By expanding the applications and capabilities of this innovative technology to UPS’ Detroit facility, Michigan continues to be a leader in the electrification of mobility.”
Additional funding for the project, in the amount of $200,000, comes from the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP), an initiative aimed at supporting real-world testing and deployments. The MMFP was created as part of a multi-effort led by the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification (OFME), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT).
The state already has in place its 'Make it in Michigan' economic strategy, designed by the MEDC, which focuses on creating jobs with skilled workers and, of course, mobility and electrification initiatives.
[Related: What it takes to install charging infrastructure]
Electreon is receiving additional funding from the Michigan Central Scale Fund, which was launched just last year to assist technology startups.
The combined efforts of UPS, Electreon, and Xos could result in major advancement in the development and deployment of future wireless charging, for commercial and passenger EVs alike. Wireless charging has many benefits, such as extended vehicle range without requiring expensive grid updates and larger batteries. Fleets running EVs stand to gain a lot in terms of cost savings and reducing vehicle downtime.
