28 August 2009
Country: United States
Prototype energy harvester for trucks and vehicles
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New Energy Technologies, Inc. has announced successful completion of its first-ever MotionPower™ prototype energy harvester for heavy trucks and vehicles for installation at such locations such as truck stops, weigh scales, commercial ports of entry, and shipping sites. This newly developed technology complements the Company's previously prototyped MotionPower™ system for cars and light trucks.
MotionPower™ technology is a roadway-based system that is designed to be installed in locations where vehicles decelerate or stop, thus ensuring that vehicles are not 'robbed' of energy they would otherwise use to accelerate. Instead, MotionPower™ devices assist vehicles in slowing down, and in the process of doing so, capture the vehicles' motion (kinetic) energy before it is lost as brake heat, and convert that energy into electricity.
Mr. Meetesh V. Patel, Esq., President and CEO of New Energy Technologies, Inc. Said "Engineers will now work towards optimizing our first-of-its-kind heavy-vehicle energy harvester for full-scale site implementation and testing, similar to the durability tests we've planned at key locations for our recently completed, first-generation MotionPower™ car and light truck energy harvester prototype."
Once fully optimized for efficiency, engineers envision New Energy's MotionPower™ device for cars and light trucks could be installed at high traffic locations such as toll booths, traffic intersections, rest areas, travel plazas, border crossings, neighbourhoods with traffic calming zones, parking sites similar to the tests sites at the Four Seasons Washington, DC and Holiday Inn Express® locations, and drive-thrus such as the recently announced Burger King® test site.
New Energy's brand new MotionPower™ energy harvester for long-haul trucks and heavy vehicles has been developed as a fully functional, small scale prototype which makes use of innovative fluid-driven systems, thus eliminating most mechanical parts - an important feature designed to minimize mechanical wear and reduce future maintenance costs.
Among key features of the MotionPower™ fluid-based energy harvester are the following:
- Large energy transfer from vehicles, which helps generate maximum electricity;
- Smooth energy transfer to ensure that the vehicle, driver, cargo, and passengers remain undisturbed when engaging the system;
- Optimal performance for a range of large vehicle sizes travelling at variable speeds;
- Flexibility of installation for both above-grade and in-road (embedded) applications;
- Scalable device which can be lengthened or shortened to meet installation requirements for each site;
- Limited number of moving or mechanical parts for ease of manufacturing, greater operating reliability, and lower maintenance and production costs;
- Unobstructed passage of small vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians over the device; and
- Unobtrusive visual impact.
Once fully optimized and installed, engineers anticipate that MotionPower™ devices may be used to augment or replace conventional electrical supplies for powering roadway signs, street and building lights, storage systems for back-up and emergency power, and other electronics, appliances, and even devices used in homes and businesses.
Source: New Energy Technologies, Inc
Top image source: Truck Stops Across America
For more attend: Energy Harvesting & Storage USA 2009 