Exciting Electric Vehicles

Electric vehicles are here! They come as full plug-in electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid. As more and more companies and governments get interested in the viability of electric powered vehicles, the infrastructure won't be far away to being 100% ready worldwide.

Although, I wonder about the following:
  • Why not assist recharging the batteries with solar power? Consider this: a car can be parked in an open parking lot exposed under the sun for up to 8 hours. The energy could be enough to charge the car, right?
  • Why not assist recharging the batteries with wind power? Consider this: open the windows of a moving car. What do you get? Wind! If so much wind can be utilized to recharge the moving car, that would extend the mileage, right?
  • Why not assist recharging the batteries with the spinning wheels? If the wheels are connected somehow to a generator as well, it could help extend the battery power, right? We have regenerative brakes. Why not regenerative drives?
  • How about those turning of the steering wheel? Those bumps and humps? The thing is, we know we can convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. Why not identify them all and use them to recharge the batteries? These little things may be a lot in real life, right?
  • How about those changes in temperature? We know how to convert heat and changes in temperature into electricity. Why not use them to charge the car? It can be done. Small contributions add up, right?
  • How about sound energy to electrical energy? It's possible, right? 
Each one of these may contribute small charges with the current materials and technologies available. But together, they can add up to keep the car running and to minimize the need to plug-in just to recharge.

Keep them rolling! Keep them coming!! It's an exciting time indeed!!!

Comments

Sri said…
I guess you should patent these ideas... no sooner you will see all these implemented and advertised. Impressed with your thought. Good going!
Anonymous said…
Thanks, Sri. I'm thinking of writing a follow up article to discuss which one of these is already in R&D, is ready to roll and/or is already out. Coming soon. Have a good one!