Create. You can submit your idea or solution (preferably a video) around our questions about climate and energy challenges.
Vote. Help us choose the best ideas by rating their viability or discuss the ideas submitted by others. Get the FAQs.
Make it. Your ratings and comment help us decide which ideas are featured on our PBS TV Special. Learn how to make a video.
ActivismAdaptationAgricultureAlgaeArchitectureArtBikingBiofuelsBiomimicryBusinessCampus SustainabilityClean Tech
Climate ChangeEconomicsEducationEfficiencyElectric CarsEnergy StorageEngineeringEPA P3GeothermalGreen BuildingGreen CitiesGreen CommunitiesGreen Living
"Transportation: What innovations around transportation will help communities build for the future and adapt to a changing planet?"
Turning Tires into Turbines
Here are my thoughts. Those huge windmills use wind to create energy. A typical car has shafts or axles connected to the wheels and when the wheels turn, the car moves. Now, what if we use the windmill concept on a miniature scale to create a self-energized vehicle. First windmill type turbines are constructed 3 to 4 or 5 feet long. The amount of this type of turbine used would depend on the size of the vehicle. The axle or shaft on the vehicle are modified by adding a gear or a bearing next to the tires to turn the turbine as the car moves by the use of a belt or series of gears,. The spinning of the wheels/axles functions as the blades of a windmill. The turbines are placed underneath the vehicle (across or along the vehicle) in a way that the energy created is tapped and transmitted to the cell or electric engine. As the wheels turn, energy is created and by the use of regulators, it can be stabilized. Since there is constant energy created there is no need for huge batteries. There could be another way to do this by using energy provided by the battery to help turn the shafts.
Tell your friends:
facebook
twitter
On June 5th, 2011 at 7:35 pm ira Said:
Interesting idea. How much electricity would be produced?
How much energy would be needed to turn the turbines?
There have to be losses, otherwise you have what amounts
to a perpetual motion machine.
How about a small internal combustion engine to charge
a small bank of batteries and drive the car with your turbines
to add charging capability?
On June 10th, 2011 at 12:50 pm Nate Said:
I’d like to second the perpetual motion machine comment. Unless this technology, or any technology hoping to turn the kinetic energy of the car’s motion to charging capability, is employed only during braking or times when the engine and turbines are not running against each other, you are actually wasting more energy, and certainly not producing any.
On the other hand, adding turbines that only provide resistance and charging capability when the driver brakes *will* charge a battery, and will improve braking distance. This technology is alot like the electric generators in some electric and hybrid cars that use energy from braking to charge the battery.
On June 27th, 2011 at 11:18 pm Larry Said:
If you’re going to use a turbine, why not just use a small one like those used for model R/C airplanes, and attach THAT to a generator? Should be far more efficient than an ICE
On April 14th, 2012 at 5:29 pm Riley Said:
why have all the extra trouble of putting a turbine blade in? why not just incorporate the magnets and coils that wind turbines generate power with into the wheels themselves? just have coils completely around the outside of the brake assembly, and the inside of the tire lined with magnets. this way, as the car moves, each of the tires generates a small voltage. obviously i’m not naive enough to think that perpetual motion is achievable, however it could extend the battery life in electric cars.