Capturing Kinetic Energy from the Bounce of Cars
The Smart City Project Contest Sofia Lau-Alves October 30, 2013 Capturing Kinetic Energy from the Bounce of Vehicles Vehicles are used on a daily basis, consuming unsustainable fossil fuels and emitting harmful emissions; which are both attributes that are negatively affecting our planet. In order to reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels and harmful emissions, vehicles should be made to be able to capture kinetic energy from the bounce motion. I am aware that currently there are already certain vehicles in the market that capture kinetic energy by the movement of turning and breaking. However, I do not believe there are vehicles that currently capture kinetic energy their bouncing motion. There are many speed bumps and various indents on the roads that cause the vehicle to bounce. I believe this motion, kinetic energy, is being wasted and should be incorporated along with other kinetic energy technologies currently used within vehicles. Fossil fuel is a non-renewable resource and society as a whole needs to “kick the fossil fuel habit”, as Tom Rand would say. It is important to eliminate the use of fossil fuel because it is damaging our planet and allowing the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer. This social imbalance and the damaging nature of fossil fuel extraction and use is unhealthy to our planet in many levels and will only lead to our planet’s destruction. According to Tom Rand, it is now possible for this generation to change their energy use to 100% renewable energy. Capturing kinetic energy from the bounce of cars is one addition to moving into this direction; of letting go of the dependence of fossil fuel use. The capturing of kinetic energy from the bounce of cars not only benefits my community, but the planet as a whole.