A new vehicle has been introduced in Seoul, which has been released as the world's first ever On-Line Electric Vehicle, or OLEV.

Instead of carrying the batteries, the little train is provided the power it needs through strips which have been buried about a foot under the surface of the road. The strips are only required to cover a fifth of the journey vehicle to keep it moving, and developer of the vehicle KAIST has suggested that installing the same at bus stops, parking lots and intersections could be just about enough.

The strips, directly connected to the national grid, are capable of providing the power to the vehicle wirelessly, powering its motor and also effectively charging a small battery, which is about one-fifth the size of those that are used in most of the vehicles. KAIST has shared that this saves a lot of time and also avoids the requirement for charging stations.

"This technology solves many of the issues related to the current batteries of electric vehicles, including size, expense, and maintenance. In addition, non-contact charging is safer because it prevents potential electrical hazards, such as electric shock, that result from direct contact with power sources. Furthermore, it is more convenient to drive vehicles without overhead wires directly connected to power lines, as is necessary for streetcars and trams", the developers have shared.