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The creation of piezoelectric tires by a British startup proposes to transform holes, speed bumps, and cracks into a source of electricity for electric vehicles, with tests in cities in the United Kingdom indicating better performance precisely on degraded roads, where impacts repeat and amplify energy recovery
The British startup RoadHarvest Technologies develops piezoelectric tires capable of generating electricity for electric vehicles whenever they pass over speed bumps, holes, cracks, and other asphalt irregularities. The proposal transforms vibrations that are normally dissipated as heat, sound, and movement into small usable electric charges within the vehicle itself.
The technology was created to recover energy that is already present in daily movement and that, under normal conditions, ends up wasted.
Instead of relying on large external structures, the system acts directly at the contact point between the vehicle and the road, exploiting frequent deformations of the tread.
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How tires transform irregularities into electricity
The operation of the tires is based on the incorporation of layers of piezoelectric materials beneath the tread. When the tire deforms while passing over uneven surfaces, these materials generate small electric charges, which are conducted to a compact electronic system integrated into the wheel.
The energy produced is sent to the vehicle’s battery as a supplement to already known resources, such as regenerative braking. The proposal does not replace conventional electric charging but adds distributed microgeneration along the route, without requiring additional infrastructure.
Piezoelectricity is not a novelty in itself and has been used for years in sensors and electronic equipment. The advancement presented lies in the application of this logic on a large scale in tires, taking advantage of the constant repetition of impacts during urban and highway circulation.
A single impact produces little electricity and, in isolation, has a reduced effect. The gain appears in the accumulation: on routes with many deformations, the repetition of stimuli makes energy recovery more significant.
Tests indicate better performance on deteriorated pavement
Tests conducted in British cities with deteriorated infrastructure showed unusual behavior for the traditional logic of mobility. The system performed better precisely in scenarios considered more problematic, such as secondary roads, worn urban areas, and winter periods when the asphalt suffers more.
In this context, the worse the condition of the road, the greater the number of opportunities to generate energy. The efficiency of the system, therefore, has a direct relationship with the quality of the pavement and introduces a new variable into the debate on electric mobility.
This characteristic also opens up new ways to evaluate routes, beyond travel time and energy consumption. An imperfect road can, under certain circumstances, increase the potential for electrical recovery along the route.
The proposal does not suggest abandoning road maintenance or turning defects into a goal of road projects. The immediate focus is more pragmatic: to use what already exists in the urban environment as an additional energy resource, without relying on external works or adaptations.
Tires and distributed efficiency in electric mobility
The adoption of this type of solution alters the traditional role of tires within the electric vehicle. They cease to be merely the point of contact with the ground and become part of the vehicle’s energy system, expanding the function of an already indispensable component.
This model fits into a broader vision of efficiency, in which different parts of the vehicle assume multiple functions. The energy obtained remains limited, but its constant generation during movement reinforces the idea of distributed utilization, with small and successive gains.
The initial potential is clearer in urban fleets, such as taxis, delivery vehicles, and public transport. In cities with heavy traffic, the accumulation of this recovery can create a continuous flow of energy, with the possibility of reducing operational costs and electricity consumption.
The proposal also reinforces a practical reading of sustainability applied to mobility. Instead of concentrating the debate solely on producing more energy, the technology seeks to reduce invisible losses that occur on each trip.
The main strength of the system lies in its silent integration into daily use, without requiring a change in habits from drivers. By functioning autonomously and without relying on new structures, piezoelectric tires transform a recurring problem of the streets into an additional source of efficiency for electric vehicles.
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