Beijing – A group of scientists in China has developed a unique device that could change the way we power our roads. The invention captures the energy created by the friction between car tires and the road—and turns it into clean electricity.
Named the Roadbed Tribological Energy Harvester (RTE Harvester), this new technology taps into an energy source that’s always been right beneath our wheels but has gone unused until now. According to scientists, as much as 85% of a car’s energy is lost as heat and friction. Of that, the friction between tires and the road alone could potentially generate around 0.3 terawatts of power every year—enough to match the annual output of 30 of China’s massive Three Gorges Dams.
The team behind this breakthrough is from the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (BINN) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Their device, which sits underneath the road surface, captures energy each time a vehicle passes over it. In lab tests, just a single tire impact produced up to 16.4 milliwatts of power, with an energy conversion efficiency of 11.7%—a solid achievement for this type of technology.
Built using a special nanogenerator array, the harvester is tough enough to work in extreme weather—from minus 40 to 60°C—and in all kinds of humidity. That means it can be used in nearly any climate around the world.
Even more promising, it’s affordable. The system costs about $71.30 per square meter, making it financially practical for use on long stretches of road.
But the benefits don’t stop at clean energy. When installed, the RTE Harvester can power sensors that monitor vehicle speed and weight, making roads safer and smarter—all without needing an external power supply. Just 50 meters of the system is enough to power traffic lights, cameras, and other roadside equipment along a full kilometer of roadway.
According to lead researchers Wang Zhonglin and Chen Baodong, this innovation could open the door to a more connected future. It supports systems that link vehicles to roads, infrastructure, and even other vehicles—part of the growing trend toward smart transportation.
This breakthrough not only offers a sustainable energy source but also lays the groundwork for more intelligent, energy-efficient roads around the world.Chinese Scientists Turn Tire Friction into Clean Energy with Innovative New Device
A group of scientists in China has developed a unique device that could change the way we power our roads. The invention captures the energy created by the friction between car tires and the road—and turns it into clean electricity.
Named the Roadbed Tribological Energy Harvester (RTE Harvester), this new technology taps into an energy source that’s always been right beneath our wheels but has gone unused until now. According to scientists, as much as 85% of a car’s energy is lost as heat and friction. Of that, the friction between tires and the road alone could potentially generate around 0.3 terawatts of power every year—enough to match the annual output of 30 of China’s massive Three Gorges Dams.
The team behind this breakthrough is from the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems (BINN) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Their device, which sits underneath the road surface, captures energy each time a vehicle passes over it. In lab tests, just a single tire impact produced up to 16.4 milliwatts of power, with an energy conversion efficiency of 11.7%—a solid achievement for this type of technology.
Built using a special nanogenerator array, the harvester is tough enough to work in extreme weather—from minus 40 to 60°C—and in all kinds of humidity. That means it can be used in nearly any climate around the world.
Even more promising, it’s affordable. The system costs about $71.30 per square meter, making it financially practical for use on long stretches of road.
But the benefits don’t stop at clean energy. When installed, the RTE Harvester can power sensors that monitor vehicle speed and weight, making roads safer and smarter—all without needing an external power supply. Just 50 meters of the system is enough to power traffic lights, cameras, and other roadside equipment along a full kilometer of roadway.
According to lead researchers Wang Zhonglin and Chen Baodong, this innovation could open the door to a more connected future. It supports systems that link vehicles to roads, infrastructure, and even other vehicles—part of the growing trend toward smart transportation.
This breakthrough not only offers a sustainable energy source but also lays the groundwork for more intelligent, energy-efficient roads around the world.
