Shock absorbers collect the energy caused by bumps in the road so your spine doesn’t have to. Conventional shock absorbers turn all that energy into heat and send it escaping into the atmosphere. Regenerative shock absorbers, by contrast, convert the energy into electricity. It can be used to charge the battery, or help power various electrical devices on the car.
A group of MIT students invented just such a shock absorber. They claim it can increase overall fuel efficiency by 10%.
Zack Anderson , senior in electrical engineering and computer sciences, holds a GenShock prototype up to a Humvee coil spring where it is installed. (Photo / Donna Coveney via mit.edu)
It will be exciting when we start to see cars that combine regenerative shocks, regenerative brakes, and solar panels—all sources of energy that conventional vehicles completely waste.
Tags: MIT, regenerative shock absorbers