Denso Develops Electric Car Technology That Can Charge While Driving

JAKARTA - Electric cars continue to be promoted as the vehicle of the future. However, for many prospective buyers, two obstacles are still felt. It is the time to charge and the mileage.

According to a Kyodo News report from Nagoya, Denso Corp, quoted on Monday, May 4, is now developing a wireless charging system for electric cars that are moving. The large automotive parts manufacturer affiliated with Toyota Motor Corp. is targeting the technology to be ready by fiscal year 2029.

This system works through a power transmission coil that is planted on the road. Electricity is sent wirelessly to a receiving coil mounted on the underside of the vehicle.

In that way, electric cars don't have to always stop long at charging stations. Vehicles can continue to run while receiving electricity. Batteries can also be made smaller.

The impact is quite important. Vehicle weight is reduced. Energy consumption is more efficient. Pressure on the road can also be suppressed. This answers one of the criticisms of electric cars, namely the longer the desired mileage, the bigger the battery that must be carried.

Denso has been testing the system since September 2024 at its headquarters in Aichi Prefecture, central Japan. The result, the vehicle is able to travel a continuous distance of 500 kilometers for 50 hours.

To accelerate the implementation, Denso signed a 10-year cooperation with the University of Tokyo starting April 1. This cooperation is aimed at encouraging the practical use of the wireless charging system.

Denso President Shinnosuke Hayashi said the technology "can break through various limitations and change the face of mobility."

However, the homework is not small. Infrastructure like this is expensive. The road must be equipped with an electricity supply system. Therefore, Denso will study the location of implementation based on traffic volume.

In other words, this technology is unlikely to be installed directly on any road section. Dense lanes, logistics areas, or certain routes that are passed by many vehicles are more reasonable as initial priorities.

Similar trials have been carried out abroad. Japan is actually said to be behind Europe and the United States. To catch up, the Wireless EV Alliance was formed in Japan in 2024. This body develops charging system standards and is followed by major automotive manufacturers, including Denso.

For countries that are building an electric vehicle ecosystem, including Indonesia, this news is interesting because it shows that the future of electric cars does not only depend on the number of charging stations. Road infrastructure can also play a role.