France has made a breakthrough in electric mobility by opening the world’s first highway that charges vehicles as they drive. The revolutionary stretch of the A10 motorway near Paris wirelessly transmits energy from coils placed beneath the asphalt to receivers installed under electric cars, buses and trucks.

VINCI Autoroutes collaborated with Israeli business Electreon to develop the 1.5-kilometre pilot section, which allows automobiles to recharge while driving at speeds of up to 100 km/h. Gustave Eiffel University conducted tests that yielded power outputs of more than 200 kW, equivalent to some of the quickest stationary chargers.

This seamless charging method has the potential to revolutionise long-distance transportation by eliminating the need for big batteries and frequent recharge stops. Lighter vehicles also result in less tyre wear and higher fuel efficiency.

Safety tests confirmed that electromagnetic emissions are substantially below human exposure limits, and the system functioned reliably in adverse weather and high traffic.

VINCI’s CEO, Nicolas Notebaert, sees this as a step towards decarbonising France’s freight industry, which accounts for 16% of total emissions. The government plans to expand this system to 9,000 km of roadways by 2035, transforming highways into continuous charging corridors and eliminating range anxiety.