The road that generates electricity
12 December 2008
- Contains piezoelectric crystals
- Generates electricity as cars drive over it
- Britain's motorways could be used to power 34,500 cars
A new type of road that generates electricity as cars drive over it is set to begin testing.
The road has been developed in Israel, and engineers claim that a one kilometre stretch of the power-generating asphalt will produce 400 kilowatts of energy a day - enough power to run eight Ford Fiesta-sized cars.
If the system was installed on every stretch of British motorway, it would generate enough energy to run 34,500 small cars.
The road contains tiny piezoelectric crystals that produce electricity when squeezed. The crystals are embedded in the road, so when a vehicle passes over them they generate a small electrical charge.
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