Thermoelectric generator in a Volkswagen Golf Plus lowers fuel use by 5%
Not long ago, we reported that BMW was awarded a prize for installing a thermoelectric generator at the exhaust pipe of a car. This device works under the Seebeck effect and generates electricity by the difference in temperatures. Although we can't use the generator to fill up our hybrid batteries, we can use one to produce about 30 percent of the electricity a car needs when running. A new prototype, shown at "Thermoelektrik - Eine Chance Für Die Atomobillindustrie?" meeting, generated about 600W. In the Golf Plus model it was attached to, this energy generation managed to lower the car's fuel consumption by five percent. Not spectacular, but every little helps. When might we see such a device installed in cars? BMW said that it could be as soon as 2014. [Source: Green Optimistic]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
paulwesterberg 9:09PM (2/09/2009)
woo 5%, mission accomplished.
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Will 10:05AM (2/10/2009)
Depending on the vehicle, 5% can add up to a large savings in cost over the lifetime of the vehicle.
paulwesterberg 11:11AM (2/10/2009)
ICE: 20% improved to 25% efficiency
Electric: 85% efficiency
Trying to improve the ICE is like trying to use a band aid to reattach a severed limb.
Mike 12:51PM (2/10/2009)
@paulwesterberg: Hey, every little bit helps. Why spit on it? I guess you have all the answers, huh?
Max 9:45PM (2/09/2009)
600W is quite impressive, but what happened to BMW's Turbosteamer?
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John Rowell 11:28PM (2/09/2009)
Goes to show there are many options available to manufacturers to increase efficiency, save fuel and lower the carbon footprint. It's just a matter of putting ingenuity to work and then putting it on the market.
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ambush 11:41PM (2/09/2009)
Thats pretty good, roughly equivalent to a 40 amp alternator, so its probably nearly all the electricity a car needs.
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Brn 11:12AM (2/10/2009)
I've a hard time believing this. Were there no other modifications made? If there weren't, then the load wouldn't change. If there were, those modifications likely deserve some of the credit.
Also, five percent? Moderate your right foot and you can make a thirty percent difference.
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AJ 8:34PM (2/11/2009)
If they're using peltier plates I was just looking into this a few months ago and found it to be INCREDIBLY cost prohibiting. somewhere around $30,000 for a ~600w system. If they were to become main stream then costs will probably come down but even then it'll be a pretty penny.
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Jeff 6:13PM (5/28/2009)
The article says the device uses the Seebeck effect, which is basically a thermocouple. This should be fairly inexpensive. Also, if much of the electric energy comes from this thermoelectric generator, then the alternator can be made much smaller, or even not use one at all! Not using an alternator would reduce the load on the engine and thereby increasing the fuel economy. I don't believe that 5% goes to power the alternator, maybe 2-3%, but it is still an improvement, which is good. Until someone comes up with a feasible way to store or generate large amounts of electricity in a small lightweight package with quick recharging ability, electric vehicles will be very difficult to break into the market. Most consumers don't want to give up convenience. We need a culture change and people need to realize the impact they have on the world and how to reduce their impact. Until then, incremental improvements are where we are at. Let's speed this improvement along and get it into production!
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