California’s first wireless charging roadway is coming to UCLA thanks to a state grant supporting electric transit projects.
The big picture: A $19.85 million grant awarded to UCLA’s Events and Transportation program will install inductive charging coils below the road on Charles E Young Drive.
- The installation will enable electric passenger shuttles and buses to charge wirelessly while driving.
- The project mirrors the deployment of the nation’s first public electric vehicle-charging roadway in Detroit, Michigan.
- The grant will also fund a new transit hub connecting UCLA to LA Metros D Line light rail extension and expand UCLA’s Bruin Bus fleet to 100% electric buses.
Go deeper: UCLA is collaborating with Electreon and CalStart for the wireless charging systems and the project respectively.
What we’re watching: The new transit hub is expected to open in 2028 in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, enhancing connectivity in Westwood.
