BMW: New suspension to generate electricity for e-cars from potholes

BMW apparently wants to use a new technology to build a suspension system that can generate electricity from potholes in electric cars. At least, that’s what a new patent that has hit the Internet suggests.

Potholes to generate electricity for BMW e-cars

Extra range for electric cars on rough and broken roads. What sounds strange at first is an exciting idea that BMW now apparently wants to implement for its own electric cars.

At least that’s according to a patent filed with the German Patent Office, discovered by news site Carbuzz. It shows a new design for the vehicles’ suspension that apparently harnesses the suspension’s previously unused suspension energy and converts it into new electricity for the electric cars. The technology could be used on the upcoming flagship BMW i7, the site further rumors.

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Generator in suspension generates electricity

Here, the patent describes a small generator, a flywheel and a clutch in the suspension of the e-cars, which is supposed to convert the resulting energy into electricity when driving through potholes.

If the wheel suspension moves upward when driving through a pothole, the generator is activated and converts the resulting energy into electricity during the subsequent downward movement. This should also be able to supply the normal 12-volt battery of ordinary cars with energy.

In 2016, Audi demonstrated a very similar concept with its “eROT” system, which was also designed to generate electricity with the help of potholes. Here, the kinetic energy in an electromechanical rotational damper was to be converted into electricity. However, the eROT system never went into series production.

At BMW, too, it is unclear whether the patent will ever make it to series production. According to Carbuzz, however, the BMW system will not be a cheap option if it is ever implemented.