A simple speed bump energy harvester

Abstract

As the nation progresses, energy demand increases. The generation of electricity in Malaysia is currently from natural gas, crude oil and petroleum, coal and coke, hydro and other renewable energy sources. Depletion of non-renewable energy sources and excessive carbon emissions are significant concerns. Any effort to mitigate, however small, is worth considering. In this study, energy harvesting from speed bumps is proposed and a roller speed bump energy harvester (SBEH) was conceived. From theoretical analysis, the roller SBEH can produce a theoretical power output of 1632.92 W when a car of 850 kg crosses the speed bump with a speed of 10 km/h. The primary driving force for roller SBEH was velocity and the secondary contributor was the weight of the vehicle. Greater speed and mass results in greater energy harvest. Future work will look further into its feasibility, examine the challenges of installation, perform size optimization and a proof-of-concept prototype.