ZF announces GenShock regenerative suspension

genshock-zf-levant

You’ve heard of regenerative brakes; how about regenerative suspension? ZF Friedrichshafen AG and Massachusetts-based Levant Power Corp have collaborated to come up with GenShock, an active suspension system that recaptures energy for the vehicle’s power supply.

The basis of the active regeneration is a compact and functional unit, containing a new type of valve technology, that’s fitted to the outside of the damper. This device is made up of its own control unit, an electric motor and an electrohydraulic gear pump. The electric motor drives the gear pump, which controls the flow of oil in the damper to adjust its rate.

To regenerate energy, the opposite happens. When the driving situation permits, the valve system guides the oil in the damper in such a way as to drive the electric pump motor, which then serves as a generator. Kinetic energy from the damper piston’s swaying motion is now converted into electricity. This electricity is then fed back into the vehicle’s battery.

Needless to say, the technology works best on poor-quality roads. The more the damper piston sways as a result of uneven terrain, the more fluid it pushes into the gear pump and the more electricity is generated. Vehicles in the Klang Valley equipped with GenShock in the future will probably have batteries overflowing with juice, then.

Moreover, the suspension is capable of raising each of the vehicle’s wheels individually – yes, that means jack-free tyre changing. When will we be able to buy a car with GenShock? At present, ZF and Levant can’t say for certain – but we think an idea as clever as this should be bursting to make its debut.

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Jonathan James Tan

While most dream of the future, Jonathan Tan dreams of the past, although he's never been there. Fantasises much too often about cruising down Treacher Road (Jalan Sultan Ismail) in a Triumph Stag that actually works, and hopes this stint here will snap him back to present reality.

 

Comments

  • Norman on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:08 am

    Turbo/supercharged cars should use this robust gearbox..most city buses are using for decades..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 33
  • Jilbaber on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:22 am

    This thing has been thought long time ago by many researchers…only ZF has the ball to announce it for production

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 2
  • This is real good in Malaysia’s road…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 24 Thumb down 0
  • No doubt BMW will add this to their efficient dynamics portfolio and claim they invented it

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Jilbaber on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:26 am

    I hope instead applying this on next generation car, why not have it can be retrofit into current gen car. Most car today heavily use their battery especially the hybrids

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 0
  • kadajawi on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:42 am

    Jack free tyre changing? Citroen had that since the 50s…

    Anyway, is this actually active suspension? Looks more like semi-active/adaptive suspension to me (i.e. the dampening rate is adjusted). Proper active suspensions usually use electromagnets, electromotors or hydraulics to move the wheels independently, and sensors to scan what’s on the road and determine where the wheel should be. Examples are the system developed by BOSE (they have demonstrated a car that can jump over obstacles, besides cornering absolutely flat (it could probably also lean into corners like a bike) and evening out everything on the road, it isn’t commercially available though) and L-3 Electronic Systems who do offer their ECASS system for the HMMWV (military version of the Hummer H1). It seems to work extremely well even on ridiculously rough terrain. Both can be found on Youtube.

    Not that I would mind having the not so fancy GenShock system…

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
    • kadajawi on Sep 19, 2013 at 11:54 am

      Ah… it seems I was wrong.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNG1hcnaU_M

      It does look pretty active, though I do see some body roll. Hmm…

      I can already see people aiming for potholes to improve fuel efficiency…

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
      • kadajawa on Sep 19, 2013 at 1:43 pm

        Sendiri tanya, sendiri jawab.

        That’s what happen if you worship Proton too much.

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 6
        • farghmee on Sep 19, 2013 at 4:16 pm

          at least dia admit.
          yg keje dok kondem org je, faham ke artikel ni ckp ape?

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 2 Thumb down 1
  • Denaihati on Sep 19, 2013 at 12:02 pm

    innovative. if mounted on a 4×4 in off-road, more electrical power will be generated.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • there are actually many researches on various technology, such as the one above, done either by companies or universities that are truly good but it requires a big/financially capable company like ZF to actually adopt it and make it happen. Most company are slow to adopt because they have spent tons of money on current technology and needs to gain enough profit before plunging on a new one.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 4 Thumb down 0
  • Jonathan Cheah on Sep 19, 2013 at 1:07 pm

    Er, jack-free tyre changing? You oughta ponder on that one for a while.

    Tyres need to be off the ground?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • can pair with regenerative seat?can put on weight in the name of ‘green technology’

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • pumpmaster on Sep 19, 2013 at 2:29 pm

    in future, no movement will come to waste. even when you are pumping your partner on bed, that kinetics will be used to charge your smartphone.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 12 Thumb down 0
  • Regenerative brake, regenerative suspension….all this suddenly makes me think that in fact everything that moves/has movement when a car is moving, can be potentially turned into energy and supplied to the car.
    Eg, mini wind turbine(s) mounted in the path of airflow, will generate electricity which can be stored.
    err…what else? any ideas?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 7 Thumb down 0
    • fart?methane contains in fart can be captured and redirected into combustion chamber.

      Korek hidung.tahi hidung can be burned in mini incinerator and generate electricity

      Mount transparent photo-electric cell on rear window.at night those unnecessarily ultra bright aftermarket hid light can help produce electricity for your vehicle

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 5 Thumb down 1
      • haha..these might work in the future u know….even now bacteria can be used to generate electricity….

        Like or Dislike: Thumb up 3 Thumb down 0
        • As the term used by our court recently: “endless possibilities”

          Like or Dislike: Thumb up 6 Thumb down 0
    • Jilbaber on Sep 19, 2013 at 5:53 pm

      mini wind turbine only creates drag which actually wasted the engine energy = energy loss. unless the tunnel got auto close system only operates during braking or decelerating , but then, scavenged energy can not be as significant as regenerative brakes.

      Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • gavin on Sep 19, 2013 at 5:11 pm

    Lol, the complexity of this in implementation will see it forever doomed to be an idea, how do you keep it reliable with so many moving parts and exposed to heat, dirt, water, floods, high speed stones.

    How to maintain the feel and handling of the traditional shock absorber?

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Simon H on Sep 19, 2013 at 7:42 pm

    Ooo, looks like future cars equipped with this can have ‘Low Rider’ stance all packaged in. Less to spend to pimping your ride. ;)

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
  • Riceboy on Sep 19, 2013 at 7:46 pm

    This company has been around for awhile already, contacted them in 2011 as my uni project involved green technology, very helpful poeple and also most of the founders are graduates !

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • Veneno on Sep 19, 2013 at 8:58 pm

    sure laku untuk kreta kat Malaysia.. hahahahahha..

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 1 Thumb down 0
  • kowreck on Sep 22, 2013 at 3:27 am

    imagine putting this in a electric vehicle and driving around in the klang valley. you can get quiet far.

    Like or Dislike: Thumb up 0 Thumb down 0
 

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