KI-TENG: Vehicle energy harvester to reduce global carbon emissions

The global energy crisis and escalating carbon emissions demand innovative solutions for sustainable energy generation. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) have emerged as promising candidates due to their high efficiency and adaptability. Among them, Kirigami-Inspired triboelectric nanogenerators (KI-TENGs), which integrate kirigami cutting techniques into TENG design, demonstrate exceptional performance—including high energy collection efficiency, wide thermal operating ranges, and excellent durability. However, industry-scale application of KI-TENGs remains limited due to a lack of market-ready products and comprehensive feasibility assessments. In this study, we propose the application of KI-TENGs to vehicle suspension systems to harness energy typically lost through suspension vibrations. We conducted a thorough assessment of this approach's feasibility and its energetic and environmental benefits on a global scale. Our analysis suggests that KI-TENGs can be integrated into vehicle suspension systems with limited influence on ride comfort under the tested conditions, exhibiting superior performance across typical vehicle vibration frequencies and temperature ranges. Our findings suggest that the widespread adoption of KI-TENGs in vehicle suspension systems have the theoretical potential to avoid approximately 210 million tons annually under the assumed scenario. We provide detailed analyses of potential national and vehicle-specific benefits across diverse geographical conditions, emphasizing KI-TENG's role in advancing environmental sustainability within the transportation industry. This study underscores the significant potential of KI-TENG technology for large-scale energy harvesting applications and contributes a viable pathway toward mitigating the global energy crisis.