GenShock suspension system could generate electricity as you drive

[RenGood08]

That...is pretty wicked. Nice.

 

[Vrmithrax]

I remember reading about this tech years ago, and it was going to be tested on military vehicles first... Ideal scenario, really, letting the off-road action of a military Humvee keep their electronics packages and battery fully charged. Since originally hearing about them, I've always thought they would be a great additional component to adding efficiency into electric and hybrid vehicles.

People seem to be getting hung up on the "pothole" scenario, but in reality most roads have a very wide range of minor flaws and bumps that this type of system could use to harvest what is essentially discarded spring/fluid damping energy. Provided it is responsive enough, one could even consider using more solid tire systems (such as foam filled or tweels) to reduce natural tire damping of bumps and get even more energy harvesting... As long as it doesn't result in a tooth jarring experience, that is!

 

[Guest]

Haha stupid idea ...

the added cost on each shock will never pay it self off in a life time of a car

but at least cars mfg will use this as an excuse to charge even more for a car!

 

[captaincranky]

....[ ].....but at least cars mfg will use this as an excuse to charge even more for a car!

Uh, they don't actually need an excuse....

However, they could "ride" these shocks all the way to a "justification" for charging more.

 

[Pan Wah]

It won't work. You can't get more energy out than you put in (Scotty's 7th law of thermodynamics), the energy required to climb in and out of the potholes or change the angular momentum as you swerve like an Indycar is greater than even the theoretical output, let alone the real one.