California aims to generate electric power from traffic congestion

California is planning a US$2.3 million initiative that will generate electrical power from traffic, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The California Energy Commission recently voted to fund two piezoelectricity projects, which convert pressure into power. One pilot will test a 200-foot-long piece of asphalt on UC-Merced’s campus, which is designing a 200-foot stretch of asphalt that will be sowed with inch-wide piezoelectric generators, which will be stacked within arrays below the road where it is
April 20, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
California is planning a US$2.3 million initiative that will generate electrical power from traffic, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. The 4259 California Energy Commission recently voted to fund two piezoelectricity projects, which convert pressure into power.


One pilot will test a 200-foot-long piece of asphalt on UC-Merced’s campus, which is designing a 200-foot stretch of asphalt that will be sowed with inch-wide piezoelectric generators, which will be stacked within arrays below the road where it is hoped they will convert the force of passing cars into a small electrical charge.

The resulting electricity could be used to power nearby lights and signs, stored in batteries or sent to the grid, Sun said. The more traffic there is, and the heavier the vehicles are, the more power can be created. Some state estimates suggest that just 400 cars an hour would need to pass over the arrays to make them economically viable.

The second experiment will be built by the San Jose green technology company Pyro-E. The company's technology is expected to generate enough power to supply 5,000 homes using less than a half-mile of piezoelectric highway.

Both pilot programs are expected, within two to three years, to be able to give California officials an idea whether the effort should be expanded. By developing new technologies like piezoelectricity, the Energy Commission is looking to help meet the Legislature’s target of producing 50 per cent of the state’s power from renewable sources by 2030.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • At-home charging for new Fiat 500e
    August 22, 2013
    Fiat has selected AeroVironment as its preferred provider of home charging stations and installations for its all-electric Fiat 500e. The 2013 Fiat 500e features a 24-kWh Lithium-ion battery that will allow drivers to travel an estimated 108 miles and uses an industry-standard SAE J1772 recharge connector. The 240-volt refuelling station will charge the car in four hours or less versus the approximate twenty hours required using a standard 120-volt charging cable. AeroVironment’s UL-listed station can
    Read More
  • Volvo Group studies potential to test electric roads in a city
    May 21, 2014
    The Volvo Group is now taking the next step in the development of sustainable transport solutions. In collaboration with the Swedish Transport Administration, the Volvo Group will study the potential for building electric roads, where city buses can be charged from electricity in the road at the same time as the bus is in operation. The benefit is quieter and more climate-smart public transport. A 300- to 500-metre electric road may be built for test operations in central Gothenburg during 2015. The tech
    Read More
  • Big data analytics identifies congestion increases
    November 26, 2014
    Iteris has completed and published the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) 2014 Level of Service Monitoring Report. The report was generated for speed-based congestion monitoring, utilising big data analytics in place of conventional in-field manual data collection for 205 miles of the 327 mile network. Use of big data analytics will be expanded in future monitoring cycles. Many agencies conduct congestion monitoring through manual data collection efforts. Agencies traditionally us
    Read More
  • EV sales stalling in the UK
    April 17, 2012
    The number of electric cars sold in the UK has fallen by over 50 per cent to just 215 in the first three months of the year despite Government incentives, according to figures from the RAC Foundation.Since 1 January, individuals and businesses have been able to claim a discount of up to £5,000 (US$8,193) on cars producing 75 g CO2/km or less under the Government’s Plug-In Car Grant scheme. A total of 680 cars have been purchased under the programme, taking the number of electric cars registered in the UK to
    Read More

Highlighted Content