Q2 Project 2: Electrified Roadways

April ’25 Updates

Project leads: Khurram Afridi, Cornell University, & Marv Halling, Utah State University 

ASPIRE students Vatan Mehar, Isaac Abram, and Nick Frooninckx are characterizing ASPIRE's 3 phase rectangular coils at the INDOT DWPT pilot
ASPIRE students Vatan Mehar (left), Isaac Abram (center), and Nick Frooninckx (right) characterize ASPIRE’s 3 phase rectangular coils at the INDOT DWPT pilot.

Events:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting

This January 5-9 was the annual meeting of the Transportation Research Board, which convened in Washington, D.C. Representatives from ASPIRE attended and presented at this meeting designed to cover all modes of transportations, with presentations addressing a variety of topics of interests for government, industry, and academic representatives.

  • Decision Framework to Determine the Maintenance Strategy Based on Both Structural and Functional Conditions of Asphalt Pavements
    Haddock, John, Purdue; Park, Bongsuk, MTU; Zhang, Cheng, Purdue; Cho, Seonghwan, INDOT; Nantung, Tommy, INDOT
  • Sensitivity of Traffic Speed Deflection Devices to Structural and Material Properties of Flexible Pavements
    Nazarian, Soheil; Tirado, Cesar; Kamalizadeh, Reza; University of Texas, El Paso

2025 CERV Conference

This year’s biennial 2025 CERV Conference offered participants an opportunity for networking, investigating new technology, and increasing general awareness and understanding of the global future of transportation electrification. At this event, presentations included:

  • What’s Next — In-motion Charging with Electric Road Systems: Use Cases, Economics, Grid Impacts, Grand Challenge Roadmaps
    Steve Pekarek, ASPIRE Research Director, Purdue University
  • R&D on Electric Road Systems — Latest Developments, Practical Considerations, Gaps and Priorities to Meet Grand Challenge Roadmaps
    Grant Covic, Electrical, Computer, and Software Engineering Professor, University of Auckland
  • Discussion with State DOTs, Tollways and Expressways on Electrified Roadways — Lessons Learned and What it Will Take to Move Beyond Pilots
    Regan Zane, ASPIRE Center Director, Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor, Utah State University

Check out our webpage for additional information and images on this event.

15th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management

For the 15th National Conference on Transportation Asset Management, an exciting opportunity for participants to network, share knowledge, and learn from experts in the field of transportation asset management, ASPIRE representatives have sent in an extended abstract. If selected, these representatives will present their research at the conference, which runs from August 25-28.

Publications:

  • Paper written to be presented at IEEE ITEC 2025
    • This paper will be presented at the International Transportation Electrification Conference from June 18-20 in Anaheim, California.
    • V. Mehar, I. Abram, N. Frooninckx, A. Brovont, D. Aliprantis, and S. Pekarek, “Fabrication and characterization of roadway-embedded DWPT transmitter coils,” accepted for IEEE Transportation Electrification Conference & Expo (ITEC), Anaheim, CA, June 18–20, 2025.
  • 3 technical reports submitted to the Mountain Plains Consortium (MPC) regional transportation center
    • This center, sponsored by the Department of Transportation, is a competitively selected University Transportation Center.
  • Paper accepted to IEEE WPTCE 2025
    • Stay tuned for more information about this paper, which will be presented at the largest international event for wireless power research and industry engagement, held from June 3-6 in Rome, Italy. This paper focuses on the success of the INDOT DWPT pilot, with this presentation highlighting its success and opening it up to feedback and insights from the global scientific community.
    • V. Mehar, I. Abram, N. Frooninckx, D. Aliprantis, and S. Pekarek, “Receiver-side power control of a 230-kW three-phase DWPT system for heavy-duty vehicles,” accepted for IEEE Wireless Power Transfer Conf. & Expo (WPTCE), Rome, Italy, June 3–6, 2025.

Tools & Technology Developments:

  • Characterization in process for the electrical system of the IN pilot system to obtain parameters used in Project 3 simulation testbed models. To date, 85 coils have been characterized, providing line-line and line-neutral impedances.
  • Developed and revised baseline FE models to predict damage in potted Litz wire bundle and concrete. These models are designed to test the strains induced by embedded systems in dynamic charging applications in an attempt to develop a more durable concrete capable of withstanding these strains.
  • 2 patents submitted.

Student Highlights:

Congratulations to Firehiwot Gurara, one of the founding SLC members, for graduating with her PhD in December from Cornell University.

She was also selected as 1 of 30 awardees of the Inflection award, given to the top young scientists in the world for their work on breakthrough solutions to climate change.

Check out her LinkedIn post for photographs and additional information.