Designing next-generation charging systems to enhance electric vehicle highway convenience

Abstract

Carbon emissions and air pollution remain critical global challenges, prompting nations to promote electric vehicle (EV) adoption to mitigate climate change. However, the widespread uptake of EVs is hindered by insufficient highway charging infrastructure, long charging times, and limited driving ranges, which make EVs less competitive than conventional internal combustion vehicles. This study proposes a next-generation charging solution that integrates a dynamic wireless charging system (DWCS) and highway autonomous charging robot (HACR) to directly address these limitations. These systems enhance the convenience and driving range of EVs by enabling charging while driving and improving accessibility to the charging infrastructure. DWCS locations were selected based on areas with high road congestion and optimised charging capacity, while HACRs were deployed to improve charging equity in regions with limited DWCS access. Our analysis shows that at a 50% EV penetration rate, these systems can save up to 27 535 h of charging time, significantly improving EV adoption and supporting the transition to sustainable transportation systems globally.