Waynergy Vehicles: an innovative pavement energy harvest system

Abstract

This paper describes an innovative pavement energy harvest system, called Waynergy Vehicles, developed in Portugal by Waydip in partnership with the Pavement Mechanics Laboratory of the University of Coimbra. This system was installed in a university campus road pavement, which allowed the testing of a prototype. During a peak hour, between 1·00 p.m. and 2·00 p.m., the system was able to generate 37 800 J or 10·5 Wh. The electrical energy generated by several modules of the system located, for example, in speed humps and speed bumps, can be used not only to charge batteries for electric vehicles, but also for general consumption through injection into the electricity grid or direct use by electrical equipment, such as public lighting, traffic lights and outdoor advertising.