Now researchers from Chalmers have used data from over 400 passenger cars to study real driving patterns on different parts of Swedish national and European roads.

They have used the data to calculate, among other things, the battery size needed to complete all journeys given possible charging options – stationary versus ERS – charging patterns, and total costs including infrastructure and batteries.

This proportion of ERS would allow batteries, which account for a large part of the cost for an electric car, to become significantly smaller – maybe only one-third of their current size…

Another possible benefit is that peaks in electricity consumption could be reduced if car drivers did not entirely rely on home charging but also supplemented it with electric road charging…

The Swedish Transport Administration is building a 21-kilometre stretch between Örebro and Hallsberg alongside the E20 motorway. The new electric road is expected to be completed in 2026.