New system to recycle idling trucks’ wasted energy

Researchers have developed a recycle system for service vehicles in highways that could reduce emissions and save companies and governments huge sums of money per year in fuel costs.

In a study, the researchers described a way to capture waste energy from service vehicles. Such as buses or refrigerated food delivery trucks, as they slow down.

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They also figured to use that energy to replace fossil fuels currently needed to operate secondary systems. For air conditioning or refrigeration units, during vehicles stopped and idling.

Vehicles turned off without shutting off refrigeration and air conditioning units.

An idling vehicle essentially operates at five per cent efficiency. The vast majority of the fuel of bus or delivery truck uses during stop is being wasted said the study’s lead author Amir Khajepour, Professor at University of Waterloo in Canada.

By harnessing the energy a vehicle wastes as it is slowing down and redirecting it to a secondary battery system. These vehicles turned off without shutting off systems such as refrigeration and air conditioning units.

As part of the study, the researchers examined the various driving, braking and idling patterns of service vehicles.

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Using computer models and engines hooked up to secondary battery systems in their lab. They then simulated the routes service vehicles followed to determine how best to collect and use waste energy.

The research focused on service vehicles because unlike passenger vehicles they have significant auxiliary power. Needs for systems like refrigeration, which account for a significant portion of the vehicles’ total fuel consumption.

Given that most companies or governments cannot afford to transition their entire fleets over to cleaner vehicles all at once. This system could represent a cost-effective way to make current vehicles more fuel efficient in the short term.