Techno Chronicle | Gain energy from potholes and other road imperfections

We know the months of April in Quebec. Construction work, freezing, thawing, heavy vehicles wreaking havoc, so many elements that act without scruple on the disfigurement of our roads in Quebec when the first mild spells arrive. And if I told you that it sometimes happens to me that at the wheel, in the spring, I am downright exasperated… Am I the only one?

To say that the bumps and potholes that we find far too often on our roads are unpleasant is an understatement. And that’s not counting the bill for the damage they can cause to our vehicles if we can’t avoid them in time.

Let’s find the smile

If I bring up the subject of potholes in this column, it’s not to make you sacred inside. It’s more that some new technology that’s being developed suddenly makes me smile.

What if, when you can’t avoid one of those notorious potholes, your electric vehicle could take the energy that is produced by the impact felt and put it to use by converting it into usable energy for your electric car?

With the state of our roads, this is an idea that could well have arisen from the head of a Quebecer, but no. The idea is rather German. It comes from BMW, which is developing a new suspension system designed to do exactly what I just described to you.

We are talking here about a system that will be able to store the energy that is released by the movement of the wheels of an electric vehicle that absorbs the shock of a bump, a pothole or any other road imperfections, including speed bumps. The car manufacturer has just filed a patent to this effect with the German patent office.

Take it, progress

So we don’t stop progress, it seems. After the efforts of car manufacturers to develop ways to increase the autonomy of electric vehicles, after the increasing research to design batteries for electric vehicles with a range as great as gasoline cars, now BMW is reinventing the world of suspension.

The information currently circulating on the subject comes from the patent application which has been filed, a patent which proposes this ingenious and generous design for saving energy.

With this invention, when the driver rolls over a bump and in response, the wheel of the vehicle moves, this technology causes a generator to be activated and energy to be generated.

With this innovation, not only will we now be able to capture this energy, but in addition this energy can be repressed and subsequently routed to a generator which, in turn, will convert it into usable electricity to charge the vehicle battery. electricity and make it gain additional energy. And here is the job.

Well, the energy gained by this exercise will certainly not be enough to save you a recharge, the battery will not be fully recharged by continuing on its way after hitting a pothole, but, still, it could supply the lights, the radio, the air conditioning system, in short, everything that puts a lot of demand on the battery in ordinary times.

A luxury option

Agreed, it’s to be expected that when BMW’s energy-capturing suspension technology hits the market, it certainly won’t come cheap.

The option will likely be considered a deluxe option, for a happy extra upfront. That said, it could still prove appealing to someone whose daily commute is filled with potholes season after season. Personally, I know that I could make good use of it during my many round trips to Montreal to honor some of my professional contracts.

If this new technology can save me from scrolling through a few well-chosen swear words at the wheel every spring and, even better, if it can relieve me of a few hefty bills at the garage, there’s no denying that I wouldn’t afford this small luxury. It will be to see.

Currently, it is BMW’s flagship i7 sedan model that is tipped to accommodate this new kind of suspension. That said, as soon as it is on the market, we bet that other manufacturers will follow, because if BMW is clearly one step ahead of the others with the filing of its patent, the German company is not the first. to have thought about it.

Other manufacturers have already worked on similar systems and could possibly follow suit. The race has begun.

Godin ambassador of the ETS Formula

Logical continuation of his involvement in the green shift of the automobile, Bertrand Godin became Monday the FORMULA ETS ambassador of the École de technologie supérieure de Montréal (ETS).

Formula ETS is a science club of around 20 ETS students who have been designing, building and validating racing cars since 1988. In 2020, Formula ETS went green to focus on fully electric prototypes.

“It seems obvious to me that the electrification of motorsports is one of the short-term challenges facing the sports community,” explained Bertrand Godin. It is obvious that the members of the club work hard to develop their prototype and introduce their car to racing enthusiasts. I have the happiness and great pleasure of sharing my passion for sport with these young geniuses who are determined to make a difference. »

“We are extremely proud to have Bertrand Godin as an ambassador for Formula ETS. Bertrand offers us not only his time, but also his know-how in the development of the prototype and in the preparation of our pilots. Bertrand Godin is a living motorsport legend and a pioneer in the electrification of motorsport. It’s a privilege to have him among us”, support the members of Formula ETS.

The 2023 prototype and all the new features for the season will be unveiled next May.