A revolutionary new energy generation idea involves the use of electric trucks
An international research team has announced a breakthrough in developing an energy storage technique based on using electric trucks for power generation at high altitudes.
Austria’s International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) has developed the electric truck hydropower technology (ETH) that uses the transport of water from high altitudes in electric trucks containers to make electricity through regenerative braking.
This system can reduce electricity consumption and also lower a truck’s braking load, as regenerative braking is an energy recovery idea that takes wasted energy from slowing a vehicle to charge batteries.
The scientists who are part of the IIASA say electricity stored in the truck from this process can then be sold to the grid or used by other trucks in the transport industry.
“The ideal configuration of the ETH system is in mountainous regions with steep roads, where the same electrical trucks can be used to generate hydropower from different sites,” IIASA scientists say.
“This increases the chances that there will be water available to generate hydropower and thus increases the capacity factor of the system.”
The scientists stress that this idea will have a minimal impact on the aquatic life in these regions as the water collected at high altitudes could be returned to the same river when trucks return to the bottom of hills.
The proposed system would include an electric truck, water containers, a charge site and a discharge site, with the truck driver having to control the descending speed of the truck to produce electricity.
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When the vehicle reaches the discharge site and empties their tanks, discharged batteries can replace charged batteries to start the cycle.
“The battery is not fully discharged, as the truck requires energy to drive up the mountain with an empty container,” IIASA scientists say.
“The discharge site should have a robust connection to the national grid to allow the site to supply electricity to the grid.”
The research suggests locations in the Andes or Himalayas have the potential to generate 15 TWH per year through this idea.