Energy Recovery from Automobile Suspension Vibration: A Comparative Study

Automotive suspension systems limit vehicle mobility, so any improvement or increase in mobility is the result of optimizing the suspension system. Therefore, its principal function is to improve the overall mobility of the car and to beware of the passenger's comfort. Currently, most commercial vehicles have passive suspension systems designed to operate under certain predefined terrain conditions, dissipating mechanical energy from vibrations in the form of heat. In the current global context, where energy resources are becoming increasingly scarce, it is necessary to harness wasted energy in other processes. This includes suspension systems that use traditional hydraulic shock absorbers. Several research studies have proposed the inclusion of regenerative shock absorbers (RSAs) to harness vibrational energy and store it for later uses. This work aims to make a comparison between the different solutions for RSAs. Also, verify if any RSA solution is available in commercial vehicles and, if not, establish the necessary key points to start commercial implementation.