Falling Into Construction Season at the EVR

As the leaves transform to oranges and yellows, the ASPIRE Electric Vehicle & Roadway facility (EVR) is decorated to match — with hard hats, cones, and construction zones. It’s a busy time of year with several exciting new installations, including ASPIRE hosting industry partners at the EVR driving standardization testing of dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) systems. 

“The reason for the hardware testbed, the EVR, is to move the research to the roadway,” said ASPIRE Program Director Dustin Maughan. “All of these construction projects are moving the different technology manufacturers from a design stage to a product stage that will allow all of them to be interoperable, working to power vehicles of all sizes.” 

In October and November, three SAE partners will be on the track testing and validating technology for interoperability and standardization practices (see more information about SAE testing). 

“On the west side of the track, we installed the ASPIRE Purdue DWPT system. This is the same system that is currently installed in the INDOT highway in Indiana,” said ASPIRE’s Senior Project Coordinator Tyler Munk. “The Cummins truck will be here in early November for them to do their final testing prior to SAE testing.” 

The installation is “an initiative with Purdue and goes beyond the joint collaboration to support the development of the SAE standards and testing,” said Maughan.

Munk agreed, adding that, “After SAE testing, the plan is to install concrete pavers over the system. This will double the research up with our CMHA Project where we need to install pavers over a live WPT system.” 

In addition to the ASPIRE Purdue DWPT system, ASPIRE opened its gates to allow Honda, an industry partner, to install and test their own DWPT system. 

“Honda installed their system into the test trench on the east side track,” Munk explained. “This required us to install three conductors from power sources within the EVR out to the track side cabinet near the trench. With this finished, Honda installed their system and has completed the SAE testing.” 

In addition to the DWPT construction projects, Sonnen battery packs have also recently been installed. 

“We are installing the 1MW Sonnen battery pack system to support the 1MW FALCON charger when it is ready for deployment,” said Munk. “Until then, and after that project, these batteries will provide additional power capacity for the entire lab and smart energy management.” 

For more information about these pilot projects, reach out to Program Director Dustin Maughan or see these installations yourself by requesting a tour of the EVR facility. 

About ASPIRE & Utah Electrification:  

Headquartered at Utah State University, ASPIRE is a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center. ASPIRE has demonstrated expertise in developing, implementing, and managing a range of electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure projects and fostering strong partnerships across the EV charging ecosystem. The center integrates multidisciplinary expertise across electrical, civil, and mechanical engineering, as well as economics, social sciences, and policy. In 2023, ASPIRE was designated the lead institution in building Utah’s Intelligent Electrified Transportation Plan. More information on the center can be found at aspire.usu.edu, and more on Utah’s electrification efforts can be found at utahelectrification.com. 

Contacts: 

Dustin Maughan 
Program Director 
ASPIRE ERC 

Writer: 

Kayleigh Kearsley 
Marketing & Communications Intern 
ASPIRE ERC