Energy Generation from Vehicle Suspension

Abstract

With the rapid increase in the number of vehicles worldwide, a significant amount of mechanical energy is continuously dissipated in vehicle suspension systems due to road irregularities such as bumps, potholes, and uneven surfaces. This energy is normally wasted in the form of heat. This paper presents a practical approach for harvesting energy from vehicle suspension systems and converting it into useful electrical energy. The proposed system uses a mechanical rack and pinion mechanism coupled with a DC generator to convert vertical oscillatory motion of the suspension into rotational motion. The generated electrical energy can be stored in a battery and utilized for low-power applications such as vehicle lighting, sensors, or charging electronic devices. The proposed method is economical, environmentally friendly, and suitable for real-time implementation. Experimental analysis indicates that the system can generate usable power without affecting ride comfort significantly.

Introduction

Due to increasing energy demand and depletion of conventional energy sources, alternative energy harvesting technologies are gaining importance. Vehicles continuously experience vibrations and vertical movements caused by road irregularities, and the suspension system dissipates a significant amount of this mechanical energy as waste. The proposed system aims to capture this wasted energy and convert it into electrical energy using a rack and pinion mechanism coupled with a DC generator.

The system works by converting the vertical motion of the suspension into linear motion of a rack, which then rotates a pinion gear. This rotational motion drives a DC generator to produce electrical energy. The generated power is regulated and stored in a rechargeable battery through a rectifier and voltage regulator.

The system offers several advantages, including utilization of waste energy, environmental friendliness, simple and cost-effective design, adaptability to different vehicle types, and reduced dependence on conventional power sources. The generated energy can be used for charging vehicle batteries, powering lighting systems, operating sensors and control units, and charging small electronic devices.

Experimental testing of a prototype demonstrated that measurable electrical energy can be generated without significantly affecting suspension performance. Output voltage increases with greater suspension displacement and vehicle speed. Although the power output is limited, it is sufficient for low-power applications.

Future improvements may include integrating advanced generators, supercapacitors, improved power electronics, and combining the system with regenerative braking and smart energy management systems to enhance overall efficiency.

Conclusion

This paper presented a method for generating electrical energy from vehicle suspension systems using a rack and pinion mechanism. The proposed system effectively converts mechanical vibration energy into usable electrical energy. It offers a sustainable and practical solution for energy harvesting in vehicles. With further optimization, the system can contribute significantly to green energy initiatives in the automotive sector.

References

[1] Z. Li, L. Zuo, J. Kuang, and G. Luhrs, “Energy harvesting from vehicle suspensions,” Smart Materials and Structures, vol. 22, no. 11, 2013. [2] S. Priya and D. J. Inman, Energy Harvesting Technologies, Springer, 2009. [3] A. Khaligh and O. C. Onar, Energy Harvesting: Solar, Wind, and Ocean Energy Conversion Systems, CRC Press, 2010. [4] M. A. Karami and D. J. Inman, “Powering pacemakers from heartbeat vibrations,” IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, vol. 59, no. 4, pp. 1111–1117, 2012.

Copyright

Copyright © 2026 Gunasekaran K. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.