Do shock absorbers save energy?

Several studies reported that conventional shock absorbers are liable for 30% of energy dissipated at wheel systems, which is approximately 10% of the total vehicle fuel consumption (Abdelkareem et al. 2019). The RSA can recover waste vibration energy from the suspension system while reducing the vibrations (Cai and Zhu 2022).

How does a hydraulic shock absorber work?

The conventional hydraulic shock absorber is responsible for absorbing vibration energy caused by uneven road excitations and maintaining the vehicle’s comfort and handling. Simultaneously, the vibration energy is wasted in the form of heat to the environment. RSA may transform vibration energy into electrical energy for later use.

Can shock absorbers be used for energy harvesting and vehicle dynamics?

In the literature, researchers performed analyses of energy harvesting and vehicle dynamics by replacing conventional shock absorbers with RSA. The RSA can be installed for energy regeneration in all on-road vehicles; however, the amount of energy harvested depends on road conditions and vehicles.

Can energy harvesting shock absorbers be used in regenerative suspensions?

Regenerative suspensions with the energy harvesting shock absorber have gained tremendous attention in the past two decades as promising directions in vehicle research because of its potential to enable the suspension system not only providing enhanced dynamic performance but also converting the wasted vibration energy to electricity.

How can regenerative shock absorbers improve fuel efficiency?

In theory, by regenerating braking energy, maximum fuel efficiency can be increased by 30%, and efficiency can be further improved by 10% by recovering the vibration energy in suspension systems . Energy regenerative shock absorber (ERSAs) that scavenge vibration energy are considered one of the most promising methods.

What is the research on energy harvesting from shock absorbers?

3. The research on energy harvesting from shock absorbers mainly focused on designing and optimizing novel shock absorber systems and controlling the vehicle’s vibrations to maintain the comfort of passengers and road handling.