Nanogenerator Harvests Energy from Rolling Tires

Jul-02-15 A nanogenerator able to harness the energy from rolling tires could eventually offer another way to increase the efficiency of our vehicles.

Developed by a team from University of Wisconsin-Madison and a collaborator from China, the technology takes advantage of the triboelectric effect and works via an electrode installed in the tire’s surface. As the electrode-embedded surface of the tire makes contact with the road, the resulting friction is harnessed to generate electricity.

In tests on a toy Jeep, the movement of the tires was enough to power the Jeep’s LED lights. The team believes the technology could provide a 10 percent increase in gas mileage.

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[GIZMODO.COM]
[NEWS.WISC.EDU]

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