An innovative ecological solution to charging electric vehicles while on the road, and reducing emissions dramatically, has been launched in Germany. It’s called the eHighway system, and trucks equipped with electric motors and batteries are currently testing the concept. Developed by Siemens and funded by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, the system allows “big rig transit vehicles” to travel with the same amount of flexibility as electrical railways while dramatically reducing Co2 emissions.

It works like this: The truck drives underneath a power line at speeds of up to 90 km per hour. The eHighway system automatically connects to the overhead lines for charging. The overhead line provides power to the truck’s electric motor while simultaneously charging its battery. With this stored energy the truck can continue its journey without any emissions. The first test system for these overhead lines is located near the Frankfort airport, and two more test tracks in Schleswig-Holstein and Baden-Württemberg will follow.