UPS tests inductive charging from Electreon in Detroit
Funded with $200,000 (approx. 189,840 euros) from the Michigan Mobility Funding Platform (MMFP), the project will see Electreon integrate its wireless charging infrastructure into Xos’s step van. Furthermore, the company will install stationary wireless charging at a UPS depot in the state. It allows the delivery van to charge overnight. However, exactly how many inductive charging stations will be installed is unknown, as is the power of the device(s).
As mentioned above, the Electreon technology will be integrated in a UPS delivery vehicle provided by Xos. The goal is to investigate the technology’s potential to reduce the total cost of ownership (TCO) when electrifying commercial van fleets.
“We are proud to partner with Electreon and support UPS in demonstrating the potential of wireless charging in commercial fleets. This innovative approach will revolutionise how we power our electric vehicles and drive fleet electrification forward,” said Dakota Semler, CEO & Co-Founder of Xos.
“We’re excited to demonstrate how Electreon’s technology can optimise electric fleet usage and showcase the seamless integration of wireless charging into daily fleet operations, minimising downtime and enabling charging across time and location,” said Stefan Tongur, Vice President of Business Development for Electreon. “We’re proud to do this work in Michigan, a state fostering innovation and sustainable transportation solutions.”
The project comes one year after the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the City of Detroit, and Electreon successfully launched the first electric roadway, which uses inductive coils to supply energy as EV users drive on the street. “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. She added: “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.”
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