Cars Power Supermarket Checkouts
Supermarkets could soon be using the power of shoppers to help power their stores. Using technology similar to the Kinetic Energy Recovery Systems (KERS) currently being used in some Formula One cars, kinetic plates can be used to generate electricity.
Kinetic plates are positioned in the entrances and exits to the supermarket car park. Every time a vehicle runs over the plate, the kinetic plate is pushed down. This creates a pumping action through a series of hydraulic pipes and this drives a generator where energy is captured and used to power the checkouts. The plates are able to produce around 30kw an hour.
The system is already being trialled by a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Gloucester, UK. It is hoped that if the system is proved successful, the concept can be used in larger-scale projects.
One area that has been marked out for potentially being able to use the kinetic plate system is the motorway network where cars travelling on slip roads would be able to produce energy to help light the road system. Rollercoasters in theme parks are another potential area that could use kinetic plates.
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