Florida is preparing to take a major step toward hands-free electric vehicle charging, announcing plans to break ground in 2026 on a highway segment capable of wirelessly powering EVs while they drive.
The project will be built as part of State Road 516 (SR 516), also known as the Lake/Orange Expressway, a 4.4-mile roadway being developed by the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX). The wireless charging technology will be installed along a three-quarter-mile section of the highway, making it one of the most ambitious real-world EV charging tests in the United States.
CFX is constructing SR 516 in three phases, with the wireless charging equipment located in the first segment. While the full roadway is expected to open to the public in 2029, the charging system will initially be limited to “specially equipped vehicles...for initial testing of the charging lane,” according to CFX.
The announcement comes just weeks after a major breakthrough in Indiana, where researchers at Purdue University successfully demonstrated wireless EV charging on a highway at full speed. Working with the Indiana Department of Transportation, the team charged a semi truck traveling at 65 mph, delivering 190 kilowatts of power — enough to support smaller passenger vehicles as well.
“This is a system designed to work for the heaviest class of trucks all the way down to passenger vehicles,” says Aaron Brovont, a research assistant professor in Purdue’s Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
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Florida’s project could follow a similar trajectory, though it remains unclear whether the test will prioritize passenger cars, commercial trucks, or both. International efforts have largely focused on freight applications. In October, France activated a highway capable of wirelessly charging trucks in partnership with Electreon, while Michigan previously installed a quarter-mile inductive charging road in Detroit for testing.
Despite those early pilots, wireless charging for electric vehicles has yet to become mainstream. While smartphones and smaller electronics rely on wireless power every day, EV batteries require significantly higher energy transfer — especially at highway speeds. As Purdue researchers note, “Because vehicles travel so much faster on highways than city roads, they need to be charged at higher power levels.”
Still, the appeal is obvious. Wireless charging eliminates the need for cables and connectors, reduces wear on charging hardware, and makes automation far easier. That advantage is particularly important for autonomous vehicles, which could align themselves over charging infrastructure without human intervention.
Tesla has already signaled interest in the technology. CEO Elon Musk said in 2024 that it was “high time” for the company to adopt wireless charging, and in April 2025, Tesla confirmed it was exploring the technology for its V4 Superchargers, though no deployments have been announced.
If Florida’s test proves successful, it could accelerate broader adoption of dynamic charging — allowing EVs to recharge passively while driving. Once considered science fiction, the concept is increasingly moving toward reality, with Florida positioning itself at the forefront of the next phase of EV infrastructure development.
Originally reported by Emily Forlini, Senior Reporter in PC mag.
