An Inertial Energy Harvester Based on Noncontact Magnetic Force for Self-Powered Applications in New Energy Buses

The advent of energy-efficient, next-generation driverless buses places substantial reliance on an array of wireless sensors. In response to this challenge, converting and utilizing these buses' local inertial kinetic energy emerges as a practical strategy for achieving self-powered capabilities for low-power appliances. Herein, an inertial energy harvester based on noncontact magnetic force for self-powered applications in new energy buses is introduced. The harvester system comprises energy capture, mechanical amplification, conversion, and storage modules. The energy capture module proficiently captures and converts the otherwise wasted inertial kinetic energy into magnetic force. The magnified magnetic force produced by the mechanical amplification module efficiently transforms into electrical power within the energy conversion module. Afterward, the alternating current is regulated and stored within the supercapacitor by the energy storage module, achieving self-powered capabilities for low-power vehicle appliances. At the same time, combined with the bench test, the maximum output power of the harvester under different vehicle acceleration scenarios is obtained. Taking the campus bus of Liaocheng University as the application object, the average output power of the harvester in the actual operation of the campus is 23.71 mW, which can effectively promote the realization of wireless sensor self-powered technology in new energy vehicles. A novel inertial energy harvester is proposed based on noncontact magnetic force for self-powered applications in new energy buses. A mechanical amplification structure is designed with a compact overall space structure, high working reliability, and remarkable force amplification effect. The prototype is fabricated and the feasibility verification experiment is carried out in Liaocheng University campus bus.image (c) 2023 WILEY-VCH GmbH