Tufts develops regenerative electromagnetic shock absorber
 

Via GCC:

Tufts University has developed an electromagnetic shock absorber that apparently has some really good energy generating potential:

They're claiming that this 2500 lb vehicle can generate an average output of 1-6 kW "traveling at relatively moderate speeds on typical roads encountered under normal urban driving conditions."

Source: Green Car Congress: Electric Truck Exclusively Options Regenerative Magnetic Shock Absorber Technology from Tufts

SAE paper: http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/...ive/771018.pdf

I was wondering when someone would look in to this. It ran through my head at one point. Just wasn't a project I could take on. Got the idea from those little rechargeable flash light that you shake. Just in a much larger scale.

The amount of force those shocks see is enormous I'm sure. I think it has the potential of increasing the range of any vehicle with an electric power train immensely. It would also be something that could be retro-fitted to an existing vehicle if done right.

Same principle as wave generators.

Considering a small car only requires around .3 kW to run (not counting lights, stereo, etc), these 1-6 kW shocks could conceivably supply all the vehicle's power needs and then some, permitting the alternator to be off most of the time.

MetroMPG -

That's what I was about to say. It could be used for regular cars and hybrids for increased range/electrical charging.

CarloSW2

...so you pray for bumpy roads? :D

Great idea!

NeilBlanchard -

The irony is, I drive the 710 freeway in LA for my commute, which I like to call "Diesel Alley". This is *the* freeway between the Long Beach Harbor and the rail yards in LA, so it's uber-buckled from truck traffic.

On that disaster of a road I could probably generate 4KW!!!!!!!!!!!

CarloSW2

If you commute on northern California hiways like I do, there's no need to pray ;)

For a non-snow belt area, my state's hiway maintainence org has no excuse... other than being broke that is

I live in New England -- say no more! I think we invented the frost heave...

Oh, it can get worse :-) I only drove the Insight on I-80 over the Sierra one trip, because I was afraid that I was going to high-center it on the ruts the truck traffic had worn into the concrete.