LAFAYETTE — Tucked off U.S. 52 South at Venture Logistics' Lafayette, a row of trailers sit idly waiting for a semi-truck to hitch up the load to reach their final destinations.
But just over to the side, another semi sits inconspicuously, waiting to demonstrate the potential future in electric semi technology.
Funded in part by an $8.4 million U.S. Department of Energy grant, WAVE Charging, an EV charging start-up based in Utah, unveiled its newest technology made possible through partnerships with Cummins Inc. and Venture Logistics.
The wireless EV charging pad developed by WAVE was made to be compatible with Cummins EV technology. Slowly rolling forward over the 500kW charging pad, the semi driver's dashboard informs the driver when the truck's battery, located underneath the vehicle just to the back of the cab, has connected its signal with the charging pad.
With an empty battery, the charging pad is able to provide the truck with a full charge in just 15 minutes, providing the EV semi with 20 hours of "fuel."
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