While the concept is revolutionary, the test route will initially only be accessible to specially equipped vehicles.
Charging on the Move Could Reshape EV Infrastructure
Despite steady expansion of charging infrastructure across Bavaria, the automotive industry continues to report regional disparities. The German Association of the Automotive Industry (VDA) has emphasized the need for further improvement. The idea of charging a vehicle while in motion could radically reduce reliance on stationary charging points—and this vision is now being explored in a real-world setting.
Autobahn Test Track Equipped with Built-In Charging Coils
The trial installation is located on the northbound side of the A6, near the Oberpfälzer Alb Nord rest area. The research is being led by the Chair of Manufacturing Automation and Production Systems at Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg (FAU). Although the road construction zone spans 5.7 kilometers, the inductive charging system will be embedded in only a few hundred meters of the new roadway.
Inductive Charging Works Like a Smartphone—But at Highway Scale
According to Florian Risch of FAU, the underlying principle is similar to wireless charging for mobile phones, but scaled up dramatically. Coils embedded in the road generate a magnetic field, which is captured by a receiver coil located beneath the vehicle. This energy is then converted into electricity to power the motor or charge the battery. The system functions efficiently even with several centimeters of clearance between the road and the vehicle—at full driving speed.
Technology Not Compatible with Standard EVs
This charging method cannot yet be used by standard electric vehicles. It requires a specialized receiver coil installed in the vehicle’s undercarriage—technology not currently available in commercial EVs. As a result, only retrofitted test vehicles will be allowed on the pilot route.
First Test Drives Scheduled for Late Summer
The construction phase begins in May, with initial vehicle tests planned for late July or early August. The goal is to evaluate the technical feasibility, efficiency, and cost of implementing the system. The project is backed by a consortium of universities, private companies, and public institutions. Initial funding for the testing phase amounts to €8 million, supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and the Autobahn GmbH of the German government.
Germany’s Charging Infrastructure Continues to Expand
As of May 1, 2025, the Federal Network Agency recorded 128,198 public standard charging points and 38,669 fast-charging points. The federal government’s target is to install one million charging points by 2030 to serve an anticipated 15 million electric vehicles. However, current expansion rates suggest this goal may be difficult to achieve.
The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) has pointed out that the network’s capacity is not currently under strain. In fact, the performance of charging stations is increasing steadily, which could reduce the overall number of stations needed by decreasing charging times.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM) stresses that the most critical charging locations remain private homes and workplaces. For this reason, the institute recommends that financial incentives for home and office charging infrastructure should take priority.
Charging Infrastructure Growth Snapshot
| Date | Standard Chargers | Fast Chargers |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 1, 2022 | 55,570 | 10,231 |
| Jan 1, 2023 | 67,288 | 13,253 |
| Jan 1, 2024 | 98,216 | 25,233 |
| Sep 1, 2024 | 114,794 | 31,063 |
| May 1, 2025 | 128,198 | 38,669 |
The pilot project in Bavaria is part of a broader effort to make electric mobility more convenient and practical, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the transport systems of tomorrow.
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