Electric battery-operated vehicles have not taken off well as they cannot be used for long-distance travel without charging stations enroute. The need to frequently charge the battery and the lack of charging facilities on the go have made e-vehicles a non-starter.
E-vehicles can run, at best, only 60 to 80 km a day and the batteries must be recharged for eight hours. Engineering institutions have been working on solutions for this, for several years now.
A professor of the aerospace engineering department at the Madras Institute of Technology has found a way to recharge the batteries on the go by using wind energy. The vehicle (in this case an e-scooter) is fitted with three blades similar in shape to aeroplane wings.
The vehicle initially runs on batteries, but subsequently the vertical-axis wind turbine blades mounted on the vehicle harness wind energy. The mechanism used is similar to the principle of ‘lift and drag’ of aircraft wings, explains S. Thanigaiarasu, professor and head of aerospace engineering, who was assisted by his postgraduate student S. Govindasamy in the research.
While the aircraft’s wings are placed horizontally, in the hybrid vehicle, they are positioned vertically. As the vehicle moves, the blades start rotating due to the kinetic energy.
The shaft to which the blades are attached also begins to rotate, producing energy. This is converted into electrical energy by a DC generator fitted beneath the shaft. The electricity thus generated is used to charge the battery and allows the vehicle to run longer distances.
Researchers have fixed 10 one-watt cell currently on the vehicle. “We have proved that electricity is generated and it charges the battery as it moves,” said Mr. Thanigaiarasu.
The next step is to use the electricity generated to power the battery so that it can be used to start the engine too, he adds.
The hybrid vehicle will completely rely on renewable energy. For larger vehicles, the same principle could be used to power the battery to operate the lights, he adds.
The researchers will be applying for funds to set up a start-up to develop a vehicle, which will then be patented.
