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Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

Posted November 09, 2011 8:10 AM

From PhysOrg.com - latest science and technology news stories:

The two little words "speed bump" usually evoke unpleasant memories of spilled coffee and back-seat arguments questioning if and where you learned how to drive. In some green energy circles, speed bumps take on a far more pleasant image. You may even hear a more dignified and important term, such as "kinetic energy recovery device."

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Anonymous Hero
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#1

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 9:27 AM

We have covered this topic on CR4 a long time ago.

Basically, they steal a small amount of your energy and use it for some other purpose.

The laws of thermodynamics still apply. Basically, the public still pays for the energy. However, instead of buying it from the electric company, where it is cheaper, you (the public) have to pay for it from the gas pump, where it is more expensive.
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Baxter
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#2
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 9:52 AM

That is true and a good point. But the idea is that these are placed where speed bumps are currently, keeping pedestrians safe or alerting the driver of some hazard. The public is at least getting some energy back rather than losing it at the pump which they would anyway. So I don't really think your point fits unless they started putting these things where they didn't make sense. If you have to drive over speed bumps anyway, why not give them more function?
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#3
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 10:57 AM

I think the real point is that this is a snow job. The public is sold on the idea that they can create "free" energy for society and some company gets to sell a whole bunch of these things to municipalities, which in turn pass the extra cost onto the tax payer.

These have to cost more than an ordinary speed bump and they will require maintenance, too!

When you consider that the public pays twice for these things and they never will pay for themselves, who is the fool?

Regular speed bumps do just as good a job at slowing cars down as these villains do and I won't even get into the controversy of speed bumps in general.

I would not support my community buying these with our tax money, especially at a time when revenues are very thin.
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Baxter
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#5
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 12:03 PM

"At the time of testing, the company estimated that each MotionPower speed bump would cost $1,500 to $2,000 and earn back its cost in two to three years. "

Thats not cheap, and I didn't think about maintenance aspects.

It'll be interesting to see how well they can tweek this concept
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#11
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 10:43 PM

I bet one could translate that by doubling all of the given numbers, plus adding some more for the maintenance.

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#18
In reply to #1

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/10/2011 8:41 AM

there are plenty of threads about this subject
the thread with the most postshttp://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/65633#comment708375
or

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/57438#comment598313
or
http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/67680#comment715402
or
http://cr4.globalspec.com/blogentry/9652
this one is a variation
http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/8664#comment76220
or
http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/5583#comment39097
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#19
In reply to #1

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/11/2011 8:15 AM

Hi Anonymous Hero,

Dead right, whos law is it that says, you get 'out for nowt (nothing for nothing)

A customer of mine, was approached by a guy with a similar idea.

He was going to put a box in the road in the same sort of places as this thing, junctions, toll booths etc. (also under raiway tracks in shunting yards) they would be filled with air cylinders acting as pumps driving turbines to generate the electricity, with the motoring public (you and me) paying the extra fuel to drive up the couple of inches out of the box but it all adds up.

Best regards,

John

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#4

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 11:44 AM

Given that the average American home power consumption figures are between 10 and 20 KWH per 24 hour period I have a few plausible doubts about 600 cars driving over a bump making that much power.

Each vehicle would have to produce at least 20 - 40 watt hours of energy in a single pass which takes only fractions of a second at 15 MPH. Imparting 72 - 144 KW seconds of energy into something by driving over it in less than one second is a hell of a bump!

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#6

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 12:22 PM

W.A.L.O.O.B.

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#7
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 1:57 PM

W.A.L.O.O.B

?

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#8
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 2:27 PM

What a load of old bollocks

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#9
In reply to #7

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 3:01 PM

I see the phrase (here at CR4) is nearly exclusive to our British members; mostly Del and PWSlack.

I may start using it, if you fellows don't mind. It seems more elegant (elegant might not be the correct word) than the more or less equivalent American "8@!!$h!".

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#10
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 4:22 PM

no complaints here.

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#14
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/10/2011 4:09 AM

Another export!

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JE in Chicago
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#12

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/09/2011 11:51 PM

They will offset the cost by having them power the speeding cameras... Bet

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#13

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/10/2011 12:20 AM

The miniaturized mass-production version of this would be to turn rumble strips into generators....

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#15
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/10/2011 6:59 AM

Or escalators!
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#16

Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/10/2011 7:17 AM

Why use speed bumps?

They could just fit electricity generating devices in our existing pot holes. It would give us a smoother ride and serve the same purpose.

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#17
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Re: Speed-bump Device Converts Traffic Energy to Electricity

11/10/2011 8:24 AM

Genius!
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Anonymous Hero (4); Baxter (2); Doorman (1); Garthh (1); JE in Chicago (1); jesw55 (1); kramarat (1); phoenix911 (2); PWSlack (2); RVZ717 (1); tcmtech (1); Tornado (2)

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