Alternative Energy: May 2017

GOODYEAR RELEASES ELECTRICITY-GENERATING TIRE CONCEPT

We’ve been getting a lot of positive news about electric cars recently. This week at the Geneva International Auto Show, Goodyear unveiled a new concept tire called the BH03. While we don’t know why it is called that, we do know that Goodyear’s new tire looks radical and could potentially generate electricity for electric cars by converting the friction heat of the tire on the road. Check out the video below…

The tire will collect heat in multiple ways, primarily from the friction heat, but also the heat generated by tire flex. The most interesting thing about these tires is that they can still collect heat while not moving! Small patches on the tire’s thermo-piezoelectric layer can collect heat from the sun on a hot day.

Watch the concept video:

More photos:

While this is still just a concept, with no clear way to power the car and no release date, we are excited by the potential. What do you think? Do you think this technology is practical and could be available in electric cars soon?

deafgun

As much as the idea is intriguing, I wonder if hitting the potholes will create more electricity? But its a wonderful idea that sun facing tires can also produce power for the car while either parked or on the road.
GEA

Excellent idea! However, durability and ROI will need to be proven before I would purchase.
http://solar-power-now.com/ Solar-Power-Now.com

Amazing tire technology. Yes, everything is starting to really look good for a full adoption of electric vehicles in the near future. These tires are just one of many tech advances in this space.
- zeetz2004
  
  My limited knowledge about piezoelectricity generation prohibits me from making too many assumptions, but I’m learning…….apparently without friction or flexing movement of any kind, is not necessary, to generate electricity…….you good folks are probably more knowledgable than I am, but I am a hobby inventor w/ a sketchpad,……and after researching the propulsion of the “Mars Rover,”…I think it’s called, the builders are basically taking a raw heat source, (low grade, low emission radiation from spent uranium, and taking the “direct emitted heat….and converting it from direct heat to a direct conversion to electricity…with nothing rotating, in a circular fashion, around magnets or stators,,,,,,,,someone has the technology to directly take any heat source…and directly & spontaneously emit electricity,….are the giant automakers hiding this technology…….this would solve the problems of ‘range extenders’ for vehicles like Tesla….& Nissan Leaf cars……this would seriously jeopardize oil company profits, however…the conversation about generating electricity is becoming fascinating…gigantic amounts of static electricity is present all over our planet.
Charles F. Easter

Stupid, increasing Drag to produce power requires more power to drive the car.
- Dr_StrangeKill
  
  It’s stupid to assume that this would increase drag. If, say, they decided to put a coil in the center of the tire, and rotate a magnet around it as the tire rotates to generate electricity, THAT would increase drag, as you would have fundamentally changed the function of the tire. While it WOULD generate electricity, you are correct to assume that it would NOT produce MORE power than was input to it. Think of a hand crank generator. You twist the crank, and it produces electricity, but it never produces ENOUGH electricity to continue turning the crank. YOU have to input power to the crank, which it converts into electricity.
  
  The difference between my simple and overly simplified example above, and the tires goodyear are creating, is that you are not ADDING any new function to the tire. Instead, they have simply found a way, by using the fundamental properties of the materials used to create the tire, to HARNESS power that ALL of our tires CONSTANTLY generate. Namely: heat, and friction. The piezoelectric materials used in the tire do not require additional input to generate energy. Rather, by the natural flexing of the tire on the road (the same flex that YOUR tires exhibit during everyday travel,) the material generates an electric charge. See the following video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eam1-9FDD-Y or this wiki article for more information about piezoelectric materials: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piezoelectricity.
  
  TL;DR: THEY ARENT INCREASING DRAG, BUT HARNESSING THE NATURAL HEAT AND FRICTION ALL TIRES EXPERIENCE WITH REALLY COOL MATERIALS
Dingo

how MUCH electricity??!
John Moore

No. Just no.
Miles Harding

I’m looking forward to a long free lunch at the release!

It’s Friday, so we figured it’s time for a little humour. James Lawler, a Landscaper from Torquay Australia, has built himself a mini-motorhome atop his Toyota Prius Hybrid. The project took just over a week to complete using scrap materials, and ended up costing him just under $150. What inspired this project? Lawler says “There’s a lot of boring camper vans out there. I thought this would be a little bit more quaint and Australiana with a rusted tin roof. It’s quite well insulated in there. It’s more comfortable than a tent.”

Lawler originally built the home for a comfortable stay at the Meridith Mountain Music festival in Victoria. On the way home police fined him, citing the vehicle for being “unroadworthy”. He is dismantling the home but is inspired to build another more watertight caravan soon. Obviously the drag from his creation offsets the hybrid’s efficiency, but we can appreciate his creativity and style. One thing is certain; if there ever is a zombie apocalypse, we want to be part of James Lawler’s crew!

What do you think of his creation? Leave your comments below…

saimafaqir

good creativity but not suitable if everyone starts doing like that then streets will b full like this types of cars.
- http://www.TrustChristOrGoToHell.org VINDICATOR
  
  What’s not “suitable”? No problem as long as it stays on the car!
  - Glen McMillian
    
    I don’t know Aussie motor vehicle law but here in Yankee land this would pass so long as the taillights are clearly visible and the total weight is within the limit set by the auto registration certificate-and it is securely fastened to the car.
    
    Maybe the Aussie cops were afraid pieces of this rig would fall off in the road resulting in someone else having an accident.
    
    The builder has a great sense of humor. I wouldn’t mind sharing a few beers with him.
dad1

@saimafaqir:disqus, oh the horror!!!!!
http://www.peacechariot.com/ Sage Peace Chariot

Hillbilly ingenuity!
martinjacobscanada

JUNK, but have to start … and not this place
Mckyle Mackwame

Integrating modern technology with ancient limitations in housing. Brilliant.
Tough I thought only an indian man from Bangalore will try this.

Back in 2013 Google purchased a company called Makani, creators of the Energy Kite. Their goal is to make wind energy pricing competitive with fossil fuels, and they believe a new approach is needed. The Energy Kite is a new type of wind turbine, designed to generate more energy using 90% less materials. “Makani’s energy kite uses the same aerodynamic principles as a conventional wind turbine, but replaces tons of steel with lightweight electronics, advanced materials, and smart software.”

How does it work?

The kite is launched from a ground station using the rotors as helicopter blades until it reaches 800ft above ground. Once airborne, the system generates power by flying in large circles up high where the wind is stronger and more consistent. Rotors mounted on the kite wings drive generators that produce electricity. A strong conductive tether acts like the string of a kite and also carries energy back to the grid. The kite’s flight path is guided by a flight computer, which uses GPS and sensors to make thousands of calculations and adjustments in strong and steady winds.

Advantages over conventional wind turbines

Generates 50% more power from 90% less materials.
Able to reach stronger, more consistent winds.
Can be used in areas not suitable for conventional turbines.
Safer and easier to maintain on the ground; no need for cranes or helicopters.

What do you think?

Sam

Fantastic! Good to see corporations doing positive things, they have the money and power, if they want to be for the people this is the way!
Dipak Jairath

great idea – in fact it’s the concept that’s so good and one wishes the team good luck for this.
Dr_StrangeKill

Saw this coming from a mile away. Back in 2011, I attempted to patent a similar machine. My concept was a blimp rather than a kite, which could potentially minimize the power input required to get the machine at an appropriate altitude. By using leak-proof materials: http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2008/09/cu-physicists-create-worlds-thinnest-balloon, it’s conceivable that with only a single input of sufficient helium, a blimp holding an electric generator could remain airborne for months or even years on end with minimal effort. At an altitude of only a few hundred feet above sea level, there are CONSTANT windspeeds that match or exceed our greatest recorded values for conventional wind turbines (which only work when the wind is actually blowing at slightly above sea level). Also, because both of our concepts are airborne, and because windspeeds only a few hundred feet up are exceptionally high worldwide, these machines could potentially generate electricity in remote areas inaccessible to conventional power sources, or even in the middle of the ocean!
- http://21stcenturysocialcritic.blogspot.com.es Fernando Leanme
  
  Better plan on using hydrogen. Helium isn’t available in the volumes you need for massive deployment.
Manojb Gowda

A great idea developers!
I want to add more to your idea, Can you add a radio control circuit for your kite? so that you can have a better control over it.
Good luck for your project.
Murad Rahimov

What do I think?? I would fund this if I had the money

Mechanical Engineer David Hartmann and Craftsman Jason Ballash have designed a new wave power technology called the KymoGen, which has the potential to produce clean, low-cost energy using the constant power of waves. Key to the design is its simplicity. A portable 8’x8′ platform is tethered to a mooring on the sea floor. Inside the floating platform, the tether is connected to a drive system which spins a flywheel as the waves rise and fall, providing constant power between waves. The generated electricity can then either be stored, or connected directly to existing power grids.

Weighing in at an estimated 800 lbs, the KymoGen can output 2 hp in as little as 12 inch waves and 8hp in 4 foot waves. Larger KymoGens could generate substantially more in rougher waters. The estimated average output per day is 25 to 100 kilowatt hours. It will be constructed of high strength Marine Composites, and the platform can accommodate wind or solar technologies to increase the energy output.

The name KymoGen comes from the word Generator combined with Kymopoleia “the wave walker” the greek goddess of waves. A Kickstarter campaign will be launched in March 2015 (see video below). Plans are to have the first units produced in May 2015, with large scale manufacturing by September 2015. We’ll be sure to post updates as the project gets underway. In the meantime you can find more info and contact information at KymoGen.com

Estimated production timeline:

Watch the video:

UPDATE: The Kickstarter Campaign has now been launched.

We think this looks very promising. What do you think? Leave your comments below…

Chris Landry

If I invest or “pledge”, what will be the return on my money? Giving money to a business without getting some back would be insane.
- AENews
  
  They haven’t started the kickstarter campaign yet, but when they do your investment returns should be listed in the right hand column. I will update this article as soon as that is set up!
- Kymo Gen
  
  The kickstarter project is to build the prototype, and to prove the concept to the world. While we will offer tokens of appreciation for supporters, that will not be the sole reason for their support. The supporters will be the true driving force behind this project. These are the people who will make the project succeed. Our supporters will be the people who understand that green energy is our future.
c.w.braun

Hallo David and Jason very interesting. I am a building engineer interested in alternative energy and ad present developed totally self energy supporting homes on the island Curacao surrounded by sea. I could get a beach location to develop your system. When reflecting about your system there are some questions for me about the work ability of the design above. If you are interested to get in contact with me feel free to send a mail to cw.braun@abc-projects.com. For more info http://www.abc-home-energy.com
John

This is an interesting piece on hydro-energy, working in the UK energy sector I am constantly looking into new measures to keep up to date with up coming research. However when I reached the stage outlining the production time line right at the end ‘Kymogen is adopted globally, Changing the world’ is a bit of a wild assumption to make from the outset an put me off the idea right there and then.
- Kymo Gen
  
  John,
  Thank you for the feedback. When we compete the prototype, and start production of these units, we will have advanced the world further in clean energy. Any progress made in this field, no matter how small, changes the world.There are many people working to create wave energy. All of these efforts work towards the same goal. The response so far to this project have been amazing.
Matt Congedi

I am a Mechanical Engineering Student studying in Adelaide, South Australia and have found your research very interesting. I am currently writing a paper on the Sustainability of Adelaide, the best of these papers will be submitted to local council and believe your ideas and research could hold the key to this sustainable energy model. I Would love to know more about how such a technology would be linked to a power grid and what infrastructure would be required to do so!
Pedro Elescamoso

we need a like buttom

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