A hybrid energy harvesting system for self-powered applications in shared bicycles

Abstract

The public transportation system is highly integrated into peoples' lives, and the emergence of shared bicycles solves the problem of the last mile of travel. The shared bicycle is equipped with the necessary low-power consumption components, which require a continuous power supply scheme. In this paper, to solve the power supply problem of low-power components on shared bicycles, a hybrid energy harvesting system is designed, modeled, and tested. The proposed system includes three modules: kinetic energy input module, power generation module, and energy storage module. The energy input module is the rotational kinetic energy transferred from the chain to the rear wheel when the shared bicycle is being ridden. The power generation module utilizes the magnet array installed on the spokes to cut the magnetic lines of induction and deforms the piezoelectric sheet to harvest the kinetic energy of the wheel. The energy storage module is used to store the current generated by the two harvesters that have passed through the rectifier circuit. The proposed hybrid energy harvesting system is analyzed through theoretical modeling and simulation, and the power output of the collector is calculated through experimental data. The peak voltage and RMS voltage of the hybrid energy harvesting system are 25 V and 7.18 V, respectively. Experiments verify that the proposed hybrid energy harvesting system is feasible for powering low-power components on shared bicycles.