Jun 9 2009
New Energy Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB:NENE), a next-generation alternative and renewable energy developer, today announced that the Company is immediately expanding its product range of MotionPower™ technologies for harvesting the kinetic energy of moving vehicles to generate clean electricity.
Engineers have bolstered the Company’s product design and development efforts and are already well underway with building a brand new MotionPowerTM system able to generate clean electricity from moving trucks, buses, and other large load-bearing vehicles. This new fluid-driven device augments the Company’s recently unveiled prototype of a modular, mechanical roadway device for generating electricity from the motion of cars and light trucks.
“In recent weeks, we have made important strides forward in our development of roadway kinetic energy harvesters for generating clean electricity,” explained Mr. Meetesh V. Patel, Esq., President and CEO New Energy Technologies, Inc. “We have successfully prototyped our energy capture system for cars and light trucks, are actively optimizing the device for installation at toll-booths, drive-thrus, and other applications, and filed nine new patents to protect our novel MotionPower™ technology.
“While these events mark significant early achievements for our Company, I’m most impressed by the encouraging engineering outcomes that have prompted us to expand our product development efforts to include the capture of kinetic energy from the motion of buses carrying passengers, long-haul rigs transporting cargo, and other load-bearing heavy vehicles.
“Our capacity to capture the kinetic energy of these heavy vehicles and light cars and truck driving billions of miles each day, marks a truly untapped commercial opportunity for New Energy to generate clean electricity in a brand new way,” concluded Mr. Patel.
Currently, nearly 70% of America’s electricity is generated by coal and natural gas, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The environmental impact of greenhouse gas emissions and rising costs of these non-renewable fuels, along with the potential doubling of global electricity consumption in the coming years, clearly illustrate the urgent need for more creative, sustainable methods for generating electricity in the United States, the world’s largest consumer of electricity.
In response, New Energy engineers have developed MotionPower™ technologies, designed to generate ‘clean’ electricity by harnessing the kinetic energy of the estimated 250 million registered vehicles which drive more than 6 billion miles on America’s roadways every day.
New Energy’s brand new fluid-driven MotionPowerTM energy harvester for heavy trucks and vehicles compliments the Company’s recently-prototyped mechanical MotionPowerTM system for cars and light trucks. Engineers are developing New Energy’s fluid-based energy harvesters for heavy vehicles with several key features, including:
- Large energy transfer from vehicles, which helps generate maximum electricity;
- Smooth energy transfer to ensure that the vehicle, driver, cargo, and passengers remain undisturbed when engaging the system;
- Optimal performance for a range of large vehicle sizes traveling at variable speeds;
- Flexibility of installation for both above-grade and in-road (embedded) applications;
- Scalable device which can be lengthened or shortened to meet installation requirements for each site;
- Limited number of moving or mechanical parts for ease of manufacturing, greater operating reliability, and lower maintenance and production costs;
- Unobstructed passage of small vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians over the device; and
- Unobtrusive visual impact.
Engineers have concluded early design efforts and are well underway with prototyping New Energy’s new fluid-driven energy harvester for trucks and heavy vehicles.
Meanwhile, New Energy’s first-generation MotionPower™ device has already been prototyped and configured as a modular, low-profile assembly, which can be mounted directly atop existing roadways with little or no modification to the roadway itself. MotionPower™ modules can be quickly installed and any components in need of replacement or repair can be quickly and easily changed without major construction work and accompanying delays to traffic. Above all, the unit’s modular design provides installers with the flexibility of shortening or lengthening the MotionPowerTM energy harvester in order to customize the system based on site conditions while maximizing power output.
Engineers are actively optimizing the efficiency of New Energy’s MotionPower™ device for cars and light trucks, in preparation for installations at high traffic locations such as toll booths, traffic intersections, rest areas, travel plazas, border crossings, and neighborhoods with traffic calming zones.
Once installed, engineers anticipate that MotionPower™ devices may be used to augment or replace conventional electrical supplies for powering roadway signs, street and building lights, storage systems for back-up and emergency power, and other electronics, appliances, and devices in homes and businesses.