[Ed007Toronto]

What a cool idea.

www.businessweek.com/maga...009012.htm
Now That's Commuter Power

How many Japanese commuters does it take to light a bulb? On Oct. 16, East Japan Railway, or JR East, began testing rubber floor mats that generate electricity when walked on. The mats, which will be at several turnstiles inside Tokyo Station for two months, work by converting vibrations into energy.

Each commuter generates 100 milliwatts-seconds of energy. With about 700,000 commuters entering and leaving Tokyo Station daily, that translates to about 70 kilowatts-seconds of energy which would light a 100-watt light bulb for more than 10 minutes. Officials say if the technology gets refined over the years those stomping feet could generate much more, providing electricity for a train station's lighting and other needs. "The mats could power machines and signs that don't require much energy," says JR East spokesman Takaaki Nemoto. "But that's far into the future."

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Only the Japanese would come up with something like that. I wonder how much energy is put into the manufacturing of these mats.

It'd probably be easier to attach generators to the turnstiles instead.

AoD

 

[Canuck 36]

So... during slow periods at night the station will be dimly lit?

This will end well.

 

[afransen TO]

Wouldn't having mats that absorb more energy more people walking upon them make walking require more effort? Seems like simple physics. Given bulging waistlines, probably not a bad thing, but there it is.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

afransen:

Well, sounds like the system is based upon the piezoelectric effect - which might power off the vibrations set off by footsteps normally dissipating as heat in other materials perhaps?

AoD

 

[Observer Walt]

I'm sure that, as the technology is refined further, this would have potential to become more efficient and generate more power. And, if this much can be done by pedestrians, I wonder if there would be potential to place "mats" in the streets for vehicles to run over, and whether this could result in larger amounts of power being produced?

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Obs Walt:

Probably not worth the effort. Instead of trying to recover energy this way, it's probably more efficient to have lighter vehicles instead.

AoD