Chinese scientists develop device to harvest electricity from road friction

By Berk Kutay Gokmen

ISTANBUL (AA) - Chinese scientists have developed a device capable of converting the friction between vehicle tires and roads into electricity, Xinhua News reported on Wednesday.

The new device, named the roadbed tribological energy harvester (RTE harvester), offers an innovative method for capturing a large, previously unused energy source.

Developed by researchers at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, this device is embedded in the roadbed and can function reliably in extreme conditions in varying humidity levels.

With its low cost of just $71.30 per square meter, the harvester is considered a cost-effective option for large-scale implementation on road networks worldwide, according to the study published recently in the journal Science Advances.

The device can generate power for monitoring equipment that tracks vehicle speed and weight, thereby improving traffic safety and road management without external energy sources.

When installed along a 50-meter stretch of road, the harvester can power traffic lights, surveillance cameras, and other roadside systems across a one-kilometer segment.

This technological advancement introduces an efficient way to harvest RTE and distribute power, supporting the integration of vehicle-to-road, vehicle-to-infrastructure, and vehicle-to-everything networks, the paper's co-corresponding authors Wang Zhonglin and Chen Baodong said.