New Shock Absorber Harvests Energy From Bumps In The Road

[NOW tense]

New Shock Absorber Harvests Energy From Bumps In The Road, Increases Fuel Economy

ScienceDaily (Feb. 13, 2009) — A team of MIT undergraduate students has invented a shock absorber that harnesses energy from small bumps in the road, generating electricity while it smoothes the ride more effectively than conventional shocks. The students hope to initially find customers among companies that operate large fleets of heavy vehicles. They have already drawn interest from the U.S. military and several truck manufacturers.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090212181904.htm


Cool!

[Warpy]

1. We are surrounded by energy sources

Any time there is motion, light or a temperature gradient, you've got an energy source.

The only question is how to harness each one of them.

When we figure that out, we can leave the Middle East sitting on top of their oil reserves in perpetuity.

[izquierdista]

2. That will put PEMEX out of business!

You wouldn't have to fill up at all between Tijuana and Cancun!

[The2ndWheel]

3. So no more jobs paving and maintaining roads then?

"They have already drawn interest from the U.S. military"

No way! Who would have thought...

[madokie]

4. Why not?

I like that idea

[skids]

5. No reason -- shocks are getting more complicated anyway...

...with all these active controls to adjust the shocks under various driving conditions or while cornering -- since these do that, in addition to harvesting energy, "why not" is right!