The Power of the Public in DWPT Technology 

Recently, the ASPIRE research team at Purdue University worked with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to successfully install a quarter-mile strip of dynamic wireless power transfer (DWPT) in the highway — infrastructure that allows vehicles to charge as they drive. Yet the research doesn’t stop there. With a community-focused approach, an ASPIRE team has surveyed and researched public perception of the technology to help bridge the gap between innovative technology and public trust. 

“Since public perceptions of DWPT are still largely understudied, my job was to help design ways to engage residents and gather feedback from the Greater Lafayette community about what they know, what they are excited about, and what concerns they have related to DWPT,” said Postdoctoral Researcher Chiara Cervini. 

Through this community engagement, these ASPIRE researchers dived into the impact of public perception and understanding on new technologies, according to the project’s Principal Investigator Nadia Gkritza. 

“Public understanding and acceptance play a major role in whether new transportation technologies succeed,” the professor of civil engineering and agricultural and biological engineering explained. “Understanding how people think about these systems helps researchers and decision-makers anticipate concerns, communicate more clearly, and make more informed choices as these technologies move from concept to practice.” 

ASPIRE Ph.D. Candidate Bruno Moras, who assisted along the way and helped with the quantitative analysis of the results, found their work to be “extremely important” and impactful. 

“Academia has a lot of examples of great innovations that were not properly adopted because the public did not understand it well,” he said. “Investigating the public perceptions about the DWPT technology is a fundamental step to promote strategies for public education and the broader goal of this technology dissemination.” 

And the Survey Says… 

After distributing the survey co-created by Cervini and two students — Bruno Moras and Ben O’Brien — the results were analyzed, with three main themes emerging from the responses: economics, health and environmental impacts, and barriers to EV adoption. 

“Overall, people were optimistic, especially current EV users, with about 70% of respondents being enthusiastic about DWPT,” said Cervini. 

Despite this optimism, results reflected a “relatively limited” awareness of the technology, Gkritza said. 

“While many respondents were interested in the concept of charging vehicles while driving, their support depended largely on perceived safety, cost, and potential impacts on existing infrastructure,” she said. “Overall, the findings show that people want clear, practical information before forming opinions about the technology.” 

Cervini added that a feeling of separation from the technology was also unveiled through the public survey. 

“Although the public is interested, many people are still not sure how DWPT works or how it will affect them directly,” Cervini said. “This highlights a key need for clear communication and education, which is something organizations like ASPIRE are well-positioned to provide.” 

Presenting Public Perceptions 

One step towards sharing this information more generally took place earlier this year at the 2026 Transportation Research Board (TRB) Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C., where the team shared insights from their research to attendees from across the nation. 

“The Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting is a leading international forum for transportation research and practice,” explained Gkritza. “Presenting this work at TRB allowed us to share community-focused findings with a broad audience of researchers, engineers, and policymakers, and to contribute to discussions about how emerging technologies are evaluated before large-scale deployment.” 

Moras agreed, classifying the meeting as “the biggest conference on transportation in the world.” 

“It’s one of the best opportunities to show high-quality work, because the audience is extremely knowledgeable.,” he said. “In my opinion, presenting at TRB has a dual meaning: it is a sign that the work has high-quality and a great opportunity to disseminate the findings.” 

This opportunity, where Moras was also selected as an International Road Federation (IRF) Fellow, offered meaningful networking opportunities as they shared their research findings and fielded questions from transportation experts. 

In addition to presenting their research at TRB, their “Public Perceptions of Wireless Charging” research was also submitted to Case Studies on Transport Policy, where it is currently under consideration. 

For the latest news, publications, and research highlights from ASPIRE, visit aspire.usu.edu. 

About ASPIRE: 

ASPIRE, a National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center headquartered at Utah State University, leads groundbreaking research and development to accelerate electrification. With over 400 global collaborators, ASPIRE focuses on creating seamless, affordable electrified transportation systems, accessible for all vehicle classes, along with the public infrastructure needed to support them. By reducing emissions, improving air quality, and fostering economic growth through job creation and workforce training, ASPIRE’s work spans engineering, social science, policy, and business. Partnering with top universities, industry leaders, and community groups, ASPIRE is driving the future of advanced transportation. Learn more at aspire.usu.edu. 

Contacts: 

Kat Webb
Content Director
Marketing & Communications 
ASPIRE ERC  

Writer: 

Kayleigh Kearsley 
Marketing & Communications Intern 
ASPIRE ERC