Electrified Long-Distance Shipping
To address the poor air quality along the Wasatch Front, ASPIRE has partnered with Kenworth, UPS, and WAVE to create two electrified routes using a battery-electric Kenworth truck powered by two static 1-megawatt chargers. Developed by ASPIRE’s team at USU, this 1-MW WPT system will be deployed at the EVR in Logan and the Utah Inland Port in Salt Lake City.
Central to the rollout are two static 1‑megawatt wireless chargers, a pioneering implementation of 1 MW wireless power transfer (WPT) systems in North America. One charger has been installed at ASPIRE’s Electric Vehicle & Roadway (EVR) test facility in Logan, Utah. A second is nearing completion at the Utah Inland Port in Salt Lake City. These systems, developed by ASPIRE’s multidisciplinary research team, are engineered to deliver megawatt-class power without connectors, enabling ultra-fast, hands-free charging.
Beginning in early 2025, this pilot will span at least 10,000 miles over a minimum three-month duration, deploying the routes for two UPS parcel-hauling runs from the Inland Port. One route heads north to Logan, the other south toward the Provo/Orem area—each carrying heavy “Rocky Mountain Doubles” trailer configurations through steep grades and variable mountain weather.
The initiative aims to validate fast charging of a Class-8 battery-electric semi under real-world, challenging operational conditions, including mountainous terrain and harsh climates. Demonstrating that existing wireless charging technology can reliably electrify long-haul freight is a core objective.