Japanese carmaker Honda has developed the core technology for a wireless charging system capable of supplying electricity to electric vehicles while they are on the move, including large commercial vehicles.

In a statement on Monday, the company said the technology was developed by its research and development arm, Honda R&D, in partnership with the construction firm Taisei Corporation and the road builder Taisei Rotec Corporation.

The companies intend to keep testing the system ahead of public-road demonstrations in Japan from the 2027 fiscal year, which begins in April 2027.

Honda said the system is designed to transfer electricity wirelessly from charging equipment embedded in roads to vehicles, and could reduce the need for EVs to make frequent stops at charging stations.

The system relies on magnetic coupling wireless power transfer technology, which combines charging equipment embedded in the road with a power-receiving unit installed on the vehicle.

It is made up of a ground-based DC power supply, power transmitter units embedded in the road and a vehicle-mounted power receiver that picks up the electricity.

Honda said the research is focused on applications in the logistics and transportation sectors, including large commercial EVs.

The three companies have been testing the technology on a dedicated test roadway to assess wireless power transfer performance, road pavement structures and construction methods for roads built to accommodate large commercial vehicles.

According to Honda, the road system has been developed to withstand traffic involving large commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weights of approximately 20 tonnes.

The companies have also been testing the durability of the pavement and the embedded charging units, as well as methods for installing the equipment in existing roads.

Honda said further tests will examine wireless power transfer at high vehicle speeds.

The companies also plan to test power output of up to 150 kilowatts for potential applications involving large commercial vehicles, alongside reliability and safety.

They will continue testing the technology, including its durability and wireless charging performance, ahead of potential practical deployment from 2027.

Nigeria’s EV charging infrastructure

Nigeria’s EV market is gradually expanding, but charging infrastructure remains one of the key issues that could determine how quickly adoption grows.

The country’s EV charging network has been growing across major cities, with industry operators pointing to the availability, reliability and commercial viability of charging infrastructure as major issues for the sector.

EVs were becoming increasingly practical for structured urban commutes, although limited public charging infrastructure and electricity supply remained challenges for wider adoption.

In April, EV charging operators expected demand for charging infrastructure to rise after the Federal Government removed the 5 per cent import duty on electric vehicles, with electricity access points identified as a potential constraint.