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The state’s first electric vehicle charging road is expected to debut in time for the 2028 Olympics, thanks to a multimillion-dollar grant to UCLA, home of Los Angeles’ Olympic Village.
Nearly $20 million will be spent to electrify the university’s Bruin bus fleet and install underground charging facilities for shuttles and buses along less than a mile of route in Westwood. The grant will also fund a new transportation hub between the UCLA bus depot and the UCLA/Westwood subway station, which will connect to the future D Line light rail extension.
The bus receives charging while driving throughout the day or while parked at a fixed wireless charger. Clinton Bench, director of UCLA Fleet and Transit, said you can get more charge by spending a few minutes at a stationary charger than by driving on it. In either case, the vehicle will get at least the same amount of charge as it would get from a wired charger.
“The wireless guidance option is a game changer…when a vehicle passes [a charger]the vehicle can collect a charge while driving,” Bench said, likening the technology to a cell phone charger. “If you’re stopped at a stop and have a five- to seven-minute layover, you’ll probably get a pretty good start on your next route and reduce the amount of charging you’ll need in the evening.”
This operation eliminates the need for drivers to connect their vehicles to charging ports, saving time and providing flexibility in charging times. This is especially beneficial during moments when the power grid is highly affected, such as during hot summer days.
“It’s an opportunity to really balance the load on the grid throughout the day,” Bench said.
The plan is to install inductive charging coils underground along Charles E. Young Drive between the Westwood Plaza intersection and Murphy Hall. Stationary chargers will also be added at passenger drop-off and pick-up locations and transportation hubs where UCLA buses typically stop.
The grant comes from the California Department of Transportation’s Transportation and Intercity Rail Capital Program, and is being partnered with the clean transportation nonprofit CALSTART, whose technology was used to develop the nation’s first EV charging roadway in Detroit last year. Received in cooperation with charging provider Electreon.
“The world needs innovative, scalable solutions with transformative impact to advance electrification. This project demonstrates California’s commitment to a more sustainable, efficient, and accessible future. ,” said Stefan Tongle, Electreon’s vice president of business development.
Only buses equipped with this technology will be able to utilize road charging power. Bench hopes the pilot program will lead to bigger possibilities in the future, such as being able to charge while sitting in traffic.
“I would love to go there someday,” he said.
For now, Bench said, the goal is to have “at least some of the wireless charging functionality implemented and available before the Olympics start.” The university plans to host athletes in residence halls, as it did in 1984.
The announcement comes as state leaders maintain commitment to clean air while President-elect Trump makes a campaign promise to cut electric vehicle tax credits. Governor Newsom recently said the state is prepared to provide state tax refunds if the federal deduction is eliminated.
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