ElectricHighway
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Sweden modified a road to recharge EVs while driving
You can now charge your electric vehicle as you drive in Sweden, but only for about 2km (1.2 miles). That's the length of a road outside Stockholm that's been embedded with electrified rail, which is the first length in a government-planned nationwide rollout of EV-recharging streets. Unfortunately, you won't be able to juice up a stock electric car on these roads: Vehicles need to drop a movable arm on the rail itself to recharge.
Ecotricity to end free EV charging across the UK
Since 2011, UK green energy supplier Ecotricity has operated electric vehicle charging points for thousands of EV owners across the UK, completely free of charge. Running from Land's End to John O'Groats and offering connectivity at nearly every major service station in the UK, the Electric Highway has contributed 30 million miles and £2.5 million worth of free travel. In December 2015, Ecotricity warned that free usage would come to an end, but this week the company began the switch to paid charging. It costs £5 for a 20-minute rapid charge, while existing domestic energy customers can continue using its points for free.
Sweden debuts the world's first 'electric highway'
Fossil fuels are bad for the planet, and freight haulage is one of the more carbon-intensive activities that operate today. That's why Siemens and Scania have teamed up to trial what's being called the world's first "electric highway." Much like an electrified railroad, the 1.2 mile stretch has a series of wires hanging overhead that a pantograph-equipped truck can connect to. Then, the vehicle can deactivate its fuel-burning engine and coast along on that delicious, dirt-cheap electricity, switching back when the wires stop.
