California taxpayers pay nearly $20M for wireless charging project at UCLA
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Wireless electric vehicle (EV) charging is coming to Southern California university roads with a hefty price tag that taxpayers are paying a large portion of.
The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is partnering with CALSTART and Electreon Wireless, Inc. to implement the charging infrastructure component of the “UCLA/Westwood Zero Emission Transit Service Expansion: Deploying Wireless Charging at Scale” project, according to documents from the California State Transportation Agency (CalSTA).
The project has a total budget of just over $34,950,000, of which $19,850,000 has been awarded to the state.
“Approximately $20 million in federal funding comes from the Transit and Intercity Rail Capital Program, which is funded by two primary sources – 10% of statewide revenue and commercial auctions, and a portion of the Transit Development Fund collected during vehicle registrations,” CalSTA said in a statement. on FOX Business.
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An Electreon diagram shows how wireless charging will work on UCLA’s BruinBus. (Electreon via UCLA Transportation)
| A ticker | Security | Finally | Change | change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELWSF | ELECTRON WIRELESS | 64 | +6.00 |
+ 10.34% |
“This project was selected through an extensive review process that included a technical committee from many government agencies and departments, as well as an executive selection committee, before being awarded to the Secretary of Transportation,” the statement added.
For a project to be awarded funding, it must show evidence of increased ridership and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, CalSTA said.
“The innovative approach demonstrated in this project is of interest because it has the potential to benefit the entire state if it is used among many transportation electrification projects, considered in award selection,” CalSTA said in its award summary.
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UCLA’s BruinBus is seen on the campus road. The university’s Department of Transportation had to demonstrate increased ridership and reduced emissions in order to be awarded millions for the project. | Fox News
The idea is to charge the university’s electric buses while driving and at stops, using wireless chargers embedded in the asphalt, rather than parked overnight, UCLA Fleet and Transit director Clinton Bench told Fast Company magazine, adding that the university is “committed to being a proving ground for new technologies.”
Although installing the technology can be expensive, Bench says inductive charging can be competitive with conventional EV charging costs. Thin charging coils can be added and connected when roads are to be rewired, and receptors can be added to electric vehicles to connect and charge.
“Inductive charger coils will be installed under the road in transit lanes on Charles E. Young Dr., approximately between the intersection of Westwood Plaza and Murphy Hall, allowing for wireless charging of electric passenger vehicles and heavy-duty buses while the vehicle is in motion,” UCLA said. in a press release.
“Additionally, stationary wireless charging will be deployed in passenger and drop-off areas and transit areas, including UCLA’s new hub, for charging while parked,” the school added. “This mixed-use approach to wireless charging will allow UCLA to take advantage of the environmental benefits of an extended electric fleet while reducing the vehicle’s downtime to charge and reducing the size and weight of the vehicle’s battery.”
UCLA is hosting the Olympic Village for the 2028 Olympic Games, which will require the daily transportation of about 15,000 athletes to the Los Angeles area.
“This transformational investment will significantly improve our transportation network, providing a clean, efficient BruinBus fleet that is consistent with our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said Tony Lucas, executive director of UCLA Events and Transportation, in a statement.
Wireless charging infrastructure on display on a street in Detroit in November 2023. (UCLA Transportation via CalSTA)
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Nonprofit CALSTART will provide project management support, collect data and disseminate information in an “unbiased manner,” a statement to FOX Business read.
The project is “expected to support a total of 215 full-time jobs and funding that directly supports 48 full-time jobs,” CALSTART said.
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