Toyota EV has gone 1,200 miles non-stop charging

Toyota EV has gone 1,200 miles non-stop charging, thanks to electric roads with wireless charging

Electron wanted to demonstrate how its electric roadsters could revolutionize electric vehicle ownership and eliminate range anxiety.

Electreon, a startup, has driven a Toyota electric car 1,207 miles straight without charging.

Electron says its electric methods solve range anxiety and the need for bulky EV batteries.

Imagine driving an electric car without having to stop and recharge. It seems like magic.

Well, it is possible. And the answer isn't in the car itself — it's in the road.

Electron, an Israeli startup founded in 2013, is developing electric roadsters that can wirelessly charge moving vehicles, eliminating the need for long stops or plug-ins. Track with built-in wireless charging coils under the asphalt.

This is about five times the ability of an ordinary electric vehicle to travel on a full charge. Oren Ezer, CEO and co-founder of Electron, explains to Insider that this impressive achievement demonstrates how wireless charging can revolutionize electric vehicle ownership.

Electron Engine Summary

The Electreon's Rav4 ranges just 46 miles under normal conditions.

"The purpose of this show is to show that it is not a technology but a product," he said.

For the demonstration, the Electron drove a Toyota RAV4 Prime—a plug-in hybrid model, not a full EV—for 100 hours straight, stopping only to switch drivers. Ezer said Electreon's invisible, underground charging technology kept the SUV's battery on top as it circled the track at 30 mph.

Toyota's gas engine didn't turn on to lend a hand, and the Electron didn't need to stop to charge. Moreover, only 25% of the track was electrified. According to Ezer, even at highway speeds, an electric road can deliver more energy than a car takes in.

Electron paves the way to wireless in Germany

Limited range and inconvenient charging are two of the biggest obstacles preventing people from converting to electricity. Electreon believes its electrified methods - paired with specially equipped vehicles that can use them - can solve these problems and more.

The longest electric car you can buy today is the Lucid Air Grand Touring, which costs $138,000 and offers 516 miles of driving range, according to the EPA. Most mainstream models have a range of somewhere between 200 and 300 miles. A 1,200-mile road trip in one of those uncrewed electric vehicles would require several stops of 30-60 minutes each.

According to Electron, another big pro for "dynamic wireless charging" is that EVs don't need bulky, expensive, and environmentally taxing batteries to travel long distances. To make that point hit home, Electron ran its experiment with a vehicle that would only have a 46-mile range under normal conditions, Ezer said.

Electron has launched several projects demonstrating wireless charging for buses and trucks.

Electron has focused on developing wireless charging solutions for bus and truck fleets - vehicles with predictable routes and charging needs. But Ezer believes cordless electric roads could also work wonders for personal electric vehicle ownership.

The company plans to open a one-mile electric road in Detroit.

So when can you purchase wireless car charging capability from a major automaker? Ezer says to give him 2-3 years.