US State of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has launched what will be the first wireless charging infrastructure on a public road in the US. Launched in conjunction with the Office of Future Mobility and Electrification, Governor Whitmer revealed the Michigan Department of Transportation is to design, fund, evaluate, iterate, test, and implement a wireless charging network along a one-mile stretch of state-operated roadway.
“Michigan was home to the first mile of paved road, and now we’re paving the way for the roads of tomorrow with innovative infrastructure that will support the economy and the environment, helping us achieve our goal of carbon neutrality by 2050,” said Whitmer.
“This project reinforces my commitment to accelerating the deployment of electric vehicle infrastructure in Michigan and will create new opportunities for businesses and high-tech jobs amidst the transition to electric vehicles.”
Governor Whitmer also announced the Lake Michigan EV Circuit, an electric vehicle route around Lake Michigan, which is one of the five Great Lakes.
The idea is to build enough EV charging stations on Michigan’s western coast that electric-vehicle owners will be able to drive up the shore as well as reach “attractions, lighthouses, parks and local businesses” without worry about where they will recharge. Governor Whitmer described the circuit as “the best new road trip for electric vehicle owners in America”.
