Energy from suspension helps hybrid bikes

. They say they can use braking energy from the motorcycle to charge capacitors – in order to boost subsequent acceleration. They also plan to take energy from linear generators – which take the place of the front fork shock absorbers. The idea comes from Sanaz and Masoud Tavakoli, who live in Babol, in northern Iran. They were able to demonstrate the idea at the recent British Invention Show on a mountain bike frame. They have not yet installed the device on a motorcycle. Many hybrid cars and even buses take energy from braking to store it in batteries for subsequent acceleration – but to our knowledge, none take energy from suspensions. However, anyone who has ridden or driven over the uneven back roads of Iran will be only too aware of the potential amount of energy that could be obtained in this way.