Power-generating piezoelectric road will be tested next month in Israel
Generating power from roads is apparently the new millennium's version of the search for the fountain of youth. Let's hope we're a little more successful this time. Thus far we know of contenders that want to make electricity using a three-layered solar panel instead of asphalt, by collecting the vibration of bridges or other parts of the roadways and harvesting the wind energy of passing cars. Add to these ideas a new one mentioned by the British Environmental Transport Association (ETA): a road filled with tiny piezoelectric crystals that would be smooshed with each vehicle running over it. Each smoosh generates a small electric charge, and the net effect is that just one kilometer of this piezoelectric roadway would generate 400 kilowatts, enough power up eight small cars, according to the Israeli researchers behind the plan. A test is scheduled for next month.
I can't imagine how much a road like this would cost.
[Source: ETA]
PRESS RELEASE:
New road turns traffic into electricity
A new type of road that generates electricity as traffic drives over it could mean British motorists will one day become a source of cheap power, according to green breakdown provider, the Environmental Transport Association (ETA).
The Israeli engineers behind the project claim that a 1km stretch of the power-generating asphalt will generate 400 kilowatts - enough power to run 8 small cars.
If the system was installed on every stretch of British motorway, it would generate enough energy to run 34,500 small cars.
Director at the ETA, Andrew Davis said: "The government predicts a massive shift to electric cars, and it may be that roads themselves will provide some of the new fuel - certain vehicles could be powered entirely by the roads on which they drive."
"If these electric roads can be put in place without harm to the environment they would be a silver lining to the problem of heavy traffic."
The new 'electric road' will be tested next month when engineers in Israel drive over a road embedded with tiny crystals that produce energy when 'squeezed' by passing vehicles.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
graylion 8:24PM (12/12/2008)
And once again I refer you to the law of the conservation of energy. This is energy that these cars going to consume more ...
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jake 8:39PM (12/12/2008)
As always mentioned for these systems, major exception is in a place where you want to slow down anyways.
jpm100 12:57AM (12/14/2008)
@jake,
Not for a hybrid. They are looking to recover that energy.
xsivejeff 3:09PM (12/14/2008)
A lot of the deterioration of roadways is from the constant compression of the surface and the heat generated from this and surface friction during braking. Wouldn't it make sense that if some of the energy from compression that generates the heat and deterioration was used to generate electricity, that the road surface might actually last longer?
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Stan Wellaway 8:43PM (12/12/2008)
Not if it's confined to areas where energy is being wastefully dissipated. In other words, only use it on downhill stretches or in approaches to junctions, where vehicles are already going to be braking and wastefully throwing off energy.
I advocated this over 40 yeasr ago in Birmingham UK - a central inland city. Tens of thousands of tons of traffic rolls into the city each morning, and out again each evening. The idea was to milk the energy on downhill braking zones only. Though the idea in those days was to use hydraulic tubes or pads as the collector within the road surface.
Clearly there is no advantage in applying in uphill or flat areas where additional engine power is needed to compensate for any energy subtracted.
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why not the LS2LS7? 1:36AM (12/13/2008)
'If the system was installed on every stretch of British motorway, it would generate enough energy to run 34,500 small cars.'
Apparently the idea of only putting it on downhill sections is not what they have in mind. What they do have in mind is stealing energy from those of us who drive cars.
Stan Wellaway 4:01AM (12/13/2008)
LS2LS7 - Yes, that's my interpretation too - that they wish to blatantly steal enegy that has been paid for by the drivers, rather than merely collecting it in downhill/braking zones where it would cost the drivers no more than they already lose.
Stan Wellaway 8:46PM (12/12/2008)
Typed my last message before seeing yours, Jake ;o)
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Scott 10:48PM (12/12/2008)
It would seem to me the issue of energy in vs energy out will be a function of how much more rolling resistance the piezo road will have over plain old asphalt. We're already wasting a little energy compressing the road. Is it just capturing otherwise wasted energy or is it expending more beyond the original amount.
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CNCMike 1:14AM (12/13/2008)
Piezoelectric crystals generate electricity from vibrations, not compression. This will have no effect on the gas mileage of cars as it will be using the waste energy that already exists as vibrations in the road from tires rolling across it. Normally this energy is wasted as it is absorbed and dissipated into the asphalt. The same amount of enery will be going into the road but now instead of just being wasted and absorbed by the asphalt it will vibrate the piezo crystals and generate electricity. Just as placing a PV panel on the roof of your house will take the normally wasted energy from the sun and trun it into usefull energy.
why not the LS2LS7? 1:37AM (12/13/2008)
Wrong. Piezoelectric crystals make electrical energy from physical energy. The energy used to compress the crystals (and make electricity) comes straight from your gas tank.
There ain't no such thing as a free lunch. Not even with piezoelectric crystals.
GoodCheer 1:22PM (12/13/2008)
why not: I'm not sure you're right.
Is energy absorbed by normal roads?
-yes.
Is it conceptually possible that that dissipated energy could be captured (without increasing the total amount of it)?
-yes.
Is it practically possible?
-I don't know. Maybe not, but you are categorically dismissing it out of hand without (I think) adequate rationale.
Will embedding p-e crystals in the road make the road have higher hysteresis? (i.e., will they increase the energy absorbed from the car).
-I don't know, but I do know that asphalt has very high hysteresis on it's own.
CNCMike 12:36PM (12/15/2008)
LS2/LS7
WRONG!! Piezo elctric crystals make electricity from vibrations. The vibrations cause small compressions in the crystals as they move back and forth.
piodalcin 4:13PM (12/14/2008)
it is great that new forms of energy are taking place...this is a new experiment towards improvment, it may take a few decades but i'm sure it will sparkle into something really good
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Information Central 6:51PM (12/13/2008)
"If the system was installed on every stretch of British motorway"
If it WERE installed...
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joshua 3:02AM (12/14/2008)
way to expensive to be feasible, sorry. the roads would have to be re-'paved' in 5 years anyway, costing as much as the initial investment. It'd be better to make sidewalks or other surfaces that don't degrade as quickly.
Braking is really where all the kinetic energy from a moving car is dissipated anyway, so any energy sequestration should probably be focused on reclaiming braking energy before laying down a multi-billion dollar (or euro) infrastructure.
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