Idle trucks could turn wasted energy into usable power

Researchers are examining the potential of harnessing wasted energy from idling vehicles to help reduce emissions and conserve energy.

The Canada Research Chair in mechatronic vehicle systems Amir Khajepour says harnessing idling energy could be the next step in fuel efficiency for North America's vehicles, especially commercial trucks and vans.

Many European car engines automatically shut down at stop lights or when the car is motionless.

"When the engine runs in idling mode, the efficiency drops from almost 30 to 40 per cent to less than five per cent," the University of Waterloo professor told CBC Kitchener-Waterloo. "If you can store the energy when a truck stops behind the traffic light and put it into a battery when it stops, it's free energy."

Energy redirected

Khajepour wants to see intelligence built into automobile systems so software can determine how much energy is needed during stops, and determine how much can be redirected to a second set of electric batteries. 

The stored energy could help run air conditioning or refrigeration in commercial vehicles, which would save energy and reduce emissions. 

"Huge trucks at ... large grocery stores that they stop for half an hour to unload. If you look at other things especially in very hot summer days, when it's on for 30 minutes," he said. "That's the need, and the question is: [is] there any way to run the system in a better way?"

Khajepour says more efficiently using the existing fossil-fuel vehicles we already have could be a more cost-effective method than a full switch to electric vehicles.