Electrified roads

The city of Gumi in South Korea just turned on its first 15 mile long network of "electrified" roads that recharge electric vehicles as they drive.

Cables carrying electricity at a specific frequency about a foot below the road generate an electromagnetic field. This generates current in a coil located underneath certain vehicles, charging the vehicle's batteries.

The technology is only being used with a few electric buses, but it's easy to see how this could completely change the logistics and cost of owning an electric vehicle by eliminating the range problems with electric cars. Batteries can become smaller and cheaper.

A research study behind Gumi's network concluded that only 5-15% of roads need to be electrified for the concept to be viable.