Automotive Energy Harvesting and Regeneration; Help Improve the Overall Efficiency of the Vehicle
Automotive energy harvesting and regeneration is the process that involves the extraction of heat energy from friction waste heat, and friction losses due to the motion of vehicle and is stored to improve the overall efficiency of the vehicle. It is the process of extraction and storage of energy from external sources, such as solar, thermal, wind, or kinetic energy owing to the movement of vehicle. Energy generated in the process is stored in batteries and capacitors and is used to support the vehicle operations.
Automotive energy harvesting and regeneration is the process where the energy output is improved and harvested from the vehicle’s exhaust system. The automotive industry has been one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, as vehicles travel up to 1.3 million miles per year. Energy harvesting and regeneration systems not only improve fuel efficiency and reduce harmful emissions, but also dramatically increase the vehicle’s performance. These are also beneficial because they do not damage or wear down the internal components of the vehicle like other types of combustion-based engine technologies.
Automotive energy harvesting and regeneration systems can be applied to nearly any fuel cell application. In fact, they are so versatile that many applications require no modifications to the existing vehicle. Many manufacturers are using this method in their new vehicles being produced for the market. However, the energy recovery process has been used for decades in diesel engines, which accounts for the fact that most trucks and cars now use diesel as their primary fuel source. Other energy harvesting processes include energy recovery from braking and coasting, regenerative braking, and fuel cell conversion.
The entire process is completely environmentally friendly and does not deplete the vehicle’s battery life in any way. Vehicles that are powered with this type of technology do not generate emissions that are harmful to the environment. The only byproduct that is produced is heat that is radiated away from the vehicle. This heat is stored in a special tank and used as a backup power during instances of blackouts. However, the demand for automotive energy harvesting and regeneration systems is increasing rapidly due to the increasing stringency of regulatory bodies towards reducing the carbon footprint and increasing the fuel efficiency.
In January 2020, new vehicle emissions standards come into force in Germany. Automakers across Europe will have to reduce the amount of CO2 their cars spit out. New cars will have to average 95 grams of CO2 per kilometer by 2021.
