How UNC Charlotte's Battery-Powered Rail Technology Could Transform Rail Transportation

By Michelle Fiscus, Senior VP & Chief Communications Officer

What if trains could run without miles of expensive overhead electrical infrastructure?

Dr. Shen-En Chen, a professor at UNC Charlotte, is developing a battery-powered rail system that uses wireless charging technology embedded in the tracks. The approach could make rail electrification more affordable, more flexible and easier to deploy while supporting cleaner transportation.

With support from NCInnovation, Dr. Chen's team is advancing this technology beyond the laboratory and toward commercial application—helping move promising university research into real-world solutions that strengthen North Carolina's economy.

This is exactly the type of applied research NCInnovation exists to support: breakthrough ideas with the potential to solve real problems, launch companies and create jobs across North Carolina. Watch the video above to learn more.