MIT Team Creates Shock That Recharges Your Car

An anonymous reader writes "If you had a GenShock, you may not mind those potholes in the road any longer because this new prototype shock actually harvests energy from bumps in the road to save on fuel. A team of students at MIT have invented a shock absorber that harnesses energy from small bumps in the road, generating electricity while it smooths the ride more effectively than conventional shocks. Senior Shakeel Avadhany and his teammates say they can produce up to a 10 percent improvement in overall vehicle fuel efficiency by using the regenerative shock absorbers. They also already have a lot of interest in their design, specifically the company that builds Humvees for the army are already planning to install them in its next version of the Humvee."

Comments

Repair the roads or fuel our cars?

[feedayeen]

Looks like MIT just gave us a little picklet, will we repair our roads or use the potholes to power our cars?

Re:Repair the roads or fuel our cars?

[daniorerio]

I wonder if the 10% improvement in fuel efficiency only counts for roads in Boston, how about cities with decent roads?

Perpetuum mobile

[Anonymous Coward]

Is this actually legal since it hurts the oil industry ?

Re:I already said that...

[drinkypoo]

I've been saying for 5 years now that we should use all the available energy to power electric cars.

I've been saying it for ten! Where the fuck have you been?

I think that this is the way of the future, and MIT did one step.

Now if they take one step back, and one step forward, and one step back... they're doing the cha-cha.

On my bed

[mrops]

Wonder if I can have this on my bed.

Honey, I know you have a headache, but think of the planet.