AML Productions

Michael Moreno, Ashleigh Weglicki, Luis Pozos

Dr. Sandi Hubnik
ENG 2311
11 Nov 2019

AML Car Charging Roads

 Table of Contents
List of Illustrations ........................................................................................................................................ ii
Abstract....................................................................................................................................................... iii
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................. 1
Purpose...................................................................................................................................................... 1
Problem ..................................................................................................................................................... 1
Description ................................................................................................................................................ 1
Benefits ......................................................................................................................................................... 2
Convenience.............................................................................................................................................. 2
Tax Incentives ........................................................................................................................................... 2
Cost ............................................................................................................................................................... 3
Estimated Cost ......................................................................................................................................... 3
Covering the Costs .................................................................................................................................... 3
Features........................................................................................................................................................ 4
Concern ........................................................................................................................................................ 5
Conclusion/ Summary ................................................................................................................................ 5
Glossary ....................................................................................................................................................... 6
Work Cited .................................................................................................................................................... 7
Appendix..................................................................................................................................................... 10

i
 List of Illustrations
Figure Page
1. How the arm connects to the
rails………………………………………………………………………… 2
2. Tearing up old road to
install………………………………………………………………………. 3
3. Maintaining charging
Roads………………………………………………………………………. 5

ii
 Abstract
Global warming is one of the biggest issues facing the world today. This is mainly related

to an increase of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Carbon emission from gas powered

engines is the main source of carbon dioxide output. Our proposal for new battery charging roads

may help ameliorate this problem by reducing the need for gas consuming cars. Electric cars help

reduce carbon emissions by almost 90%when compared to the traditional combustion engine

(eRoadArlanta). Electric cars are undersold typically because of their low mileage rates, long

charging times and high prices. By implementing a new car charging road, the inconvenience of

owning an electrical car is reduced. The new road we plan to build will allow electric car

manufacturers to make less expensive cars as they can install smaller batteries. There would also

be no lengthy wait times for charging because the owner would be able to charge their cars

battery while on the go and this would also increase the car’s mileage. By adding electric roads,

we will solve several problems that are faced by electric car owners and potentially raise the

number of electric cars sold in America. As electric cars are more widely sold, we will see a

sharp decrease in the number of gas-powered vehicles, allowing carbon emissions to drop in our

ozone and helping to save the plane

iii
 Introduction
Purpose
We are wanting to implement electric charging roads specifically in the state of Texas. AML

production wants to help end global warming as well as help the consumers that will use our

product.

Problem
Currently, AML Productions makes, owns, and operates car charging station networks for

electric cars along the west coast. We want to implement car charging roads in order to help

solve a big issue for this country: global warming. Global warming is caused greenhouse-gas

emissions and the main culprit is Carbon Dioxide from Cars. Our roads will help solve this issue

by making electric cars more practical to own, which will help reduce carbon emissions. The

roads will get rid of the inconvenience of charging and low mileage rates. This isn’t just a project

for our state or country, it's an advancement in human ingenuity to push our whole world into a

healthier future and give our children a world in which they can flourish.

Description

We have proposed the building of a conductive road which allows physical touch charging with

a movable arm attached to the car. This arm will detect the rail, then automatically attach to the

road. The road, spanning about 8km, will consist of two rails connected to a power grid. The

rails will be safe to walk on since the power is located 6 inches below the ground. For these rails

to be installed the current road will need to be dug up and placed according to the rails. The road

costs about 1.2 million dollars per km of road (Boffey, Guardian). While each vehicle is attached

and charging, the road detects the amount of energy consumption of the vehicle and then charges

it accordingly. The arm detaches if the driver moves lanes, or drifts off, to ensure damage is not

caused to either the vehicle or road.

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 Benefits
Convenience

The way the cars charge while driving over the road is simple. The car has a movable arm that

searches and detects the charging rail and clamps on automatically, as seen in Figure 1. It also

disconnects and reconnects if the driver overtakes or switches roads. This innovation makes

vehicle charging convenient. While driving over the road, the car would begin to charge until it

disconnects or finishes charging. This takes away the long

wait time to charge an electric car, which can take up to 30

minutes just for 60 miles of travel or 8 hours to fully charge

(FAQ, Plug-in). This would also add more mileage to the

vehicle as it charges on the road while people commute.
Another convenience is that car manufacturers can make
Figure 1: How the arm connects to the rail…
https://www.wheels24.co.za/News/Gear_and_T
ech/this-smart-road-in-sweden-charges-
electric-cars-as-they-drive-20180423

cheaper electric cars, allowing there to be an increase in the

electric car population. The manufacturers can install smaller batteries as there is no need for so

much energy storage due to more energy readily available. When more of these roads are

constructed, there can be up to 80%-90% reduction in carbon emissions related to a reduction in

gas powered automobiles(eRoadArlanda).

Tax Incentives
Implementing AML car charging roads not only bring benefits to the user but also to the

company. The Government gives companies tax credits for using or making equipment that is

environmentally friendly and efficient. There is a 30% tax credit for qualified expenditures, and

that would include the implementation of the AML car charging road (DSIRE, Incentives). This

would allow AML productions to save money in the process and use the tax break for other

purposes that the company needs to use it for. For example, we could use this tax break and

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improve or even develop more environmentally friendly products (BOSS, Incentives). Also, after

the road is built, the land value of the area will increase which will raise property values of home

and business owners’ assets, but it will increase their property tax cost as well.

Cost
Estimated Cost

In total, the project is intended to cost roughly

$22,647,000 in the first year of operation. It is 1.2

million dollars per km (0.621m) of road and our

goal is to lay down approximately 8km

(TheGuardian, Worlds). Tearing away the old

Figure 2: Tearing up old road to install
concrete foundation, seen in figure 2, then laying https://www.theguardian.com/environment/201
8/apr/12/worlds-first-electrified-road-for-
a new specially designed one will demand charging-vehicles-opens-in-sweden

$11,100,000 (TheTexasTribune, Highways). The materials, including machinery and tools, will

be approximately $2,112,000 (ERoadArmanda, Costs). All our employees’ wages, from every

sector, combined after one year is amount to $9,420,000. After the road is built, regular

maintenance is priced at $15,000 a year (ERoadArmanda, FAQ).

Covering the Costs

AML Productions is allocated certain grants and loans, such as research project grants and grants

from the State Energy Conservative Office (SECO) for building new roadway and reducing

carbon emissions (Comptroller, Energy). The government also helps out by giving our company

a green business tax exemption which reduces our base tax rate (TheBalance, GoGreen).

Through a series of surveys with certified engineers we have gathered information regarding our

project and what means are necessary to complete it. In addition, we will have merged with 15

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other major companies, all of whom help support business costs in exchange for a small

percentage of profit. We would like to merge with construction, property development, electrical

systems, mobility technologies, vehicle inspection, utility vehicle, and power producing

companies. Another good ally on our team would be a University with a good engineering

program, such as the University of Texas at Arlington, to benefit the students and ourselves

when it comes to research and training.

Of course, every business profit from the customer in some way. We will charge a $4 toll to

offset our sales taxes, as well as a charge of $1.00 per every kilowatt hour of energy used per

vehicle. We plan to break even and become profitable by the end of our fifth year.

Features

AML productions roads will use the data that is being transferred to the car for only what is

needed. It will record the exact amount of energy being used and charge the car

accordingly. This road also had some safety features so there will no harm to the vehicle or

pedestrians. The road would charge the vehicle, but the vehicle must maintain connection to the

road; it cannot stop and charge it needs to keep moving. This is a safety feature so there is not

too much power gathering in one spot and so there is no hold up in traffic. Included with this

feature, the road disconnects and reconnects according to the driver’s position. This means that

when the driver overtakes or leaves the road the arm automatically disconnects and charges the

driver accordingly (TomoNews, YouTube). Also, the power supplied to the road is 6 inches

below the ground's surface, so it is safe for people to walk over. This feature takes place just in

case some walks over the power rail and it ensures there are no casualties in pedestrians

(eRoadArlanta).

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 Concern
The biggest issue facing roads is the maintenance for them. The road consists of a rail that goes

further than 6 inches underground. In between the rail and concrete holding it in place are cracks,

which allows water to seep in and ice to develop. Our

solution consists of using tractors with specially equipped

excavators that pass through the road regularly to clean and

take anything unwanted out of the road. Also, in case of ice

formation, the roads will be equipped with heating coils to

Figure 3: Maintaining charging road

https://eroadarlanda.com/the- prevent any damage (ERoadArmanda). Another concern

technology/
with these roads is the price, but it is much cheaper than a

tramline or similar form of public travel and it is easier to install. Our final concern is for our

consumers who need to equip their vehicle with a movable arm in order to charge. Only certain

models of electric cars don’t include this addition. Though this issue is easily solved with an

aftermarket solution. Almost any car manufacturer can install the arm connector to vehicles at an

affordable price.

Conclusion/ Summary
AML production’s goals are to help the environment as well as produce the most efficient way of

electrical charging. That is why we are pushing towards our electrical charging roads to try and

solve these problems. We want our roads available in Texas on I35 for every driver to use in the

coming years. It will provide a more efficient form of transportation as well as save Americans

millions of gallons of gasoline every year.

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 Glossary
1. Greenhouse gases: These are gases that contribute to global warming, the main culprit

being carbon dioxide

2. Carbon emission: The act of releasing Carbon atoms onto the atmosphere increasing

global warming, though burning wood, driving cars or burning fossil fuels. The biggest

contributor to carbon emissions is CO2.

3. Conductive: Transfer of energy which physical touch

4. Power grid: Network of power lines

5. E-gallon: Measurement of cost for electric vehicles

6. Aftermarket: Equipment added to something, that was not installed by the manufacturer

or through a factory process.

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 Work Cited
Accounts, Texas Comptroller of Public. Energy Savings Performance Contracting,

comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/resources/espc.php.

Baxter, Eric. “10 Possible Transportation Pollution Solutions.” HowStuffWorks Science,

HowStuffWorks, 8 Mar. 2018, science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-

science/10-transportation-pollution-solutions3.htm.

Boffey, Daniel. “World's First Electrified Road for Charging Vehicles Opens in Sweden.” The

Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 12 Apr. 2018,

www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/apr/12/worlds-first-electrified-road-for-

charging-vehicles-opens-in-sweden.

Carrington, Damian. “UK's New Air Pollution Plan Dismissed as 'Weak' and 'Woefully

Inadequate'.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 5 May 2017,

www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/may/05/government-fails-to-commit-to-diesel-

scrappage-scheme-in-uk-clean-air-plan.

Costs Associated With Non-Residential Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment. US Department of

Energy , 2015, pp. 2–3, Costs Associated With Non-Residential Electric Vehicle Supply

Equipment.

Davis. “FAQ.” Plug-In Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center, UCDavis,

phev.ucdavis.edu/about/faq-phev/.

Expert, Product. “2019 Toyota Camry Gas Mileage and Driving Range .” New and Used Toyota

Dealers, Toyota, 11 July 2019, www.parkwaytoyota.com/blog/2019-toyota-camry-gas-

mileage-and-driving-

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 range/#targetText=2019%20Toyota%20Camry%20fuel%20efficiency%20and%20maxim

um%20highway%20range&targetText=The%202019%20Camry%20also%20features,wit

hout%20needing%20to%20pull%20over.

harto, chriss. “Electric Vehicle Sales Hit New Peak in 2018, but a Lot of Room for Continued

Growth.” Advocacy, ConsumerReports, 15 Jan. 2019,

advocacy.consumerreports.org/research/electric-vehicle-sales-hit-new-peak-in-2018-but-

a-lot-of-room-for-continued-growth/.

“How Much Do An Electric Car Charging Stations Cost?” 2019 Electric Vehicle Charging

Station Cost | Install Charger, ImproveNet, www.improvenet.com/r/costs-and-

prices/electric-car-charger-station-installation-cost.

“How Much Does It Cost to Maintain a Mile of Road?” Midwest Industrial Supply, 25 Oct.

2018, blog.midwestind.com/much-cost-maintain-mile-road/.

Megna, Michelle. “Average Miles Driven per Year by State.” Carinsurance.com, CarInsurance,

21 July 2016, www.carinsurance.com/Articles/average-miles-driven-per-year-by-

state.aspx.

Murray, Jean. “Tax Credits and Deductions to Help Your Business ‘Go Green.’” The Balance

Small Business, The Balance Small Business, 21 Aug. 2018,

www.thebalancesmb.com/tax-credits-and-deductions-for-your-going-green-business-

4052679.

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Mitchell, Russ. “Electric Vehicle Sales Are up Sharply in California, Mostly Due to Tesla.” Los

Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sept. 2019,

www.latimes.com/business/story/2019-09-10/ev-electric-car-sales-california-tesla.

Richter, Felix. “Infographic: Density of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in the United States.”

Statista Infographics, Statista, 4 Nov. 2016, www.statista.com/chart/6586/electric-

vehicle-charging-infrastructure/.

Team, Editorial. “ 5 Great Environmental Tax Incentives.” BOSS Magazine, 31 Jan. 2019,

thebossmagazine.com/5-great-environmental-tax-incentives/.

“This 'Smart Road' in Sweden Charges Electric Cars as They Drive.” Wheels, 23 Apr. 2018,

www.wheels24.co.za/News/Gear_and_Tech/this-smart-road-in-sweden-charges-electric-

cars-as-they-drive-20180423.

“US VIO Vehicle Registration Data 2018, Fast Quote on Car Data.” Hedges & Company,

HedgesCompany, 1 July 2019, hedgescompany.com/automotive-market-research-

statistics/auto-mailing-lists-and-marketing/.

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 Appendix

Completed Surveys from Certified Engineers:

1. Regarding this electric road what are your opinions on it?

2/3 -Believes it’s a step toward a positive change in the US. (Civil Engineer,
Electrical Engineer)
0/3 -Believes it’s a negative step and will be a waste.
1/3 -Believes it’s not practical. (Mechanical Engineer)
0/3 -Had no opinion.
2. How likely do you think people would switch over from combustion
engine cars to electric cars, if the roads were really accessible and cheap to
use?
2/3- Very likely (Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer)
1/3- Likely. (Electrical Engineer)
0/3- Not likely.
0/3- Doesn't know.

3. Would other companies need to be on board for this to even be possible?

0/0- Only Car Companies.
0/0- Only Government Entities.
3/3- Both. (Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer)
0/0- Other.
4. What other types of engineers, or workers would be needed to make this
happen? Type Answer.

Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, and Software engineers. (Civil Engineer)

Electrical engineers, Mechanical Engineers.(Mechanical Engineer)

Structural engineers. (Electrical Engineer)

5. If it was possible do you think this road would bring revenue to a
company or would it just be a project to lower carbon emissions?
0/0- Believes there definitely will be revenue.
2/3- Believes there might be a revenue. (Mechanical Engineer, Electrical
Engineer)
1/3- Doesn’t believe there will be revenue. (Civil Engineer)
6. If it were to happen, how long do you think it will take to start and
finish? If we had the permissions and people to do it.
0/0- Less than 1 year.
0/0- 1-5 years.
3/3- 5-10 years. (Civil Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Electrical Engineer)

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