Dutch railway company ProRail, which maintains tracks and rolling stock for the national railway NS' train services, thinks it can supply electricity for electric cars in the future by tapping electricity from the train's overhead cables and supplying it to motorways.
The Austrian Minister of Enviromental Affairs poses with an electric vehicle, the Tesla Roadster. (Photo AFP)
This would make it possible for motorists the recharge their cars wirelessly through a technique known as induction. Prorail managing director Bert Klerk is keen to meet with the NS Dutch railway company, local councils and electricity companies to discuss the idea.
Electricity network companies, which have set up a foundation to promote electric cars, do not think induction is ready for use. The technology has not fully matured yet and a lot of electricity is lost in the transfer between the road surface and the car battery.
The network companies plan to install 10,000 recharging points throughout the Netherlands, where motorists can plug in. Induction would mean cordless recharging points could be located in the road surface. Tests in South Korea and Germany suggest lowering cars' suspension could improve the efficiency of the new technology.
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