ISSN : 2249-5762 (Online) | ISSN : 2249-5770 (Print) IJRMET Vol.

2, IssuE 2, May - ocT 2012

Regenerative Braking System in Automobiles

Siddharth K. Patil
Vishwakarma Institute of Information Technology, Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract
As in today’s world, where there are energy crises and the In cities, driving involves many braking events resulting in much
resources are depleting at a higher rate, there is a need of speciic higher energy losses with greater potential savings. With buses,
technology that recovers the energy, which gets usually wasted. taxis, delivery vans and so on there is even more potential for
So, in case of automobiles one of these useful technology is the economy. Since regenerative braking results in an increase in
regenerative braking system. Generally in automobiles whenever energy output for a given energy input to a vehicle, the eficiency
the brakes are applied the vehicle comes to a halt and the kinetic is improved. The amount of work done by the engine of the vehicle
energy gets wasted due to friction in the form of kinetic energy. is reduced, in turn reducing the amount of energy required to
Using regenerative braking system in automobiles enables us to drive the vehicle.
recover the kinetic energy of the vehicle to some extent that is This technology of regenerative braking controls the speed of the
lost during the braking process. In this paper the author discusses vehicle by converting a portion of the vehicle’s kinetic energy
two methods of utilising the kinetic energy that is usually wasted into another useful form of energy. The energy so produced could
by converting it into either electrical energy or into mechanical then be stored as electrical energy in the automobile battery, or
energy. Regenerative braking system can convert the kinetic as mechanical energy in lywheels, which can be used again by
energy into electrical energy with help of electric motor. And the vehicle.
it can also convert the kinetic energy into mechanical energy,
which is supplied to the vehicle whenever it is needed, with the
help of a lywheel.

Keywords
Conventional Braking System, Regenerative Braking, Electric
Motor, Flywheel Energy Storage

I. Introduction

A. Introduction to Conventional Braking System

Braking in a moving vehicle means the application of the brakes
to slow or stop its movement, usually by depressing a pedal. The
braking distance is the distance between the time the brakes are
applied and the time the vehicle comes to a complete stop.
When brakes are applied to a vehicle using conventional braking Fig. 2: Block Diagram of Regenerative Braking System
system, kinetic energy is converted into heat due to the friction
between the wheels and brake pads. This heat is carried away in Regenerative braking refers to a process in which a portion of the
the airstream and the energy is wasted. The total amount of energy kinetic energy of the vehicle is stored by a short term storage system.
lost in this process depends on how often, how hard and for how Energy normally dissipated in the brakes is directed by a power
long the brakes are applied. transmission system to the auxiliary battery during deceleration
[1]. The energy that is stored by the vehicle, is converted back into
B. Introduction to Regenerative Braking System kinetic energy and used whenever the vehicle is to be accelerated.
Regenerative braking is one of the emerging technologies which The magnitude of the portion available for energy storage varies
can prove very beneicent. The use of regenerative braking in a according to the type of storage, drive train eficiency, drive cycle
vehicle not only results in the recovery of the energy but it also and inertia weight [1]. The effect of regenerative brakes is less at
increases the eficiency of vehicle(in case of hybrid vehicles) and lower speeds as compared to that at higher speeds of vehicle. So
saves energy, which is stored in the auxiliary battery. the friction brakes are needed in a situation of regenerative brake
failure, to stop the vehicle completely.

II. Working of Regenerative Braking using Electric

Motor
The working of the regenerative braking system depends upon
the working principle of an electric motor, which is the important
component of the system.

Fig. 1: Simple Representation of Regenerative Braking System

w w w. i j r m e t. c o m InternatIonal Journal of research In MechanIcal engIneerIng & technology 45

IJRMET Vol. 2, IssuE 2, May - ocT 2012 ISSN : 2249-5762 (Online) | ISSN : 2249-5770 (Print)

VI. Conclusion
The regenerative braking system used in the vehicles satisies the
purpose of saving a part of the energy lost during braking. Also
it can be operated at high temperature range and are eficient
as compared to conventional braking system. The results from
some of the test conducted show that around 30% of the energy
delivered can be recovered by the system.
Regenerative braking system has a wide scope for further
development and the energy savings. The use of more eficient
systems could lead to huge savings in the economy of any
country.

References
[1] S.J.Clegg,“A Review of Regenerative Braking System”,
Institute of Transport Studies, University of Leeds, Working
paper of 471, 1996.
Fig. 3: Operation of Electric Motor [2] Chibulka.J,“Kinetic Energy Recovery System by means of
Flywheel Energy Storage”, Advanced Engineering, Vol. 3,
Generally the electric motor, is actuated when electric current is No. 1, 2009, pp. 27-38.
passed through it. But, when some external force is used to actuate [3] Saharat Chanthanumataporn, Sarawut Lerspalungsanti and
the motor (that is during the braking process) then it behaves as Monsak Pimsarn,“Design of Regenerative Braking System
a generator and generates electricity. That is, whenever a motor for an electric vehicle modiied from used car”, Second
is run in one direction the electric energy gets converted into TSME International Conference on Mechanical Engineering,
mechanical energy, which is used to accelerate the vehicle and 19-21 Oct, 2011, Krabi.
whenever the motor is run in opposite direction it functions as [4] Dr. Iqbal Husain,“Electric and hybrid Vehicles: Design
a generator, which converts mechanical energy into electrical Fundamentals”, CRC press, Taylor and Francis Group, USA,
energy. This makes it possible to employ the rotational force of the 2010.
driving axle to turn the electric motors, thus regenerating electric [5] Gao, Y., Chen, L., Ehsani, M.,“Investigation of the
energy for storage in the battery and simultaneously slowing the Effectiveness of Regenerative Braking for EV and HEV”,
car with the regenerative resistance of the electric motors [2]. This SAE Paper 1999-01-2910, August 1999.
electricity is then used for recharging the battery. [6] Sudhir Kumar Saxena,“Automobile engineering”, Laxmi
publications Pvt Ltd, INDIA, 2009.
III. Flywheel Energy Storage [7] John M. Miller,“Propulsion Systems for Hybrid Vehicles”,
The energy (mechanical) stored in the lywheel is directly given Institute of Electrical Engineers, UK, 2004.
to the vehicle so as to boost its acceleration instantaneously, [8] Chen, J-X., Jiang, J-Z. Wang, X-J.,“Research of Energy
whenever needed. Generally, the method of transmission of energy Regeneration Technology in Electric Vehicle”, Shanghai
directly to the vehicle is more eficient rather than storing it in the University Press, Vol. 7, No 2, 2003.
battery, as it does not consists of the conversion of energies. As,
during the recharging of battery, mechanical energy is converted
into electrical energy and during discharging electrical energy is Siddharth Kishor Patil received his bachelor
converted into mechanical energy. So, due to these conversions degree in mechanical engineering, from
transmission loses occur and the eficiency reduces. As, in the Vishwakarma Institute of Information
other case, there are no transmission loses since mechanical energy Technology, Pune, under University of
stored in the lywheel is directly transferred to the vehicle in Pune, in 2012. At, present he is working
its original form. Because of the instant energy supply and high on a project in Computational Fluid
eficiency these type of system is used in F-1 cars. Dynamics. His research interests to include
Fluid mechanics, automobile engineering
IV. Advantages and Computational fluid dynamics.
Better fuel economy.
Reduced CO2 emissions.
Approximately 30% saving in fuel consumption.
The lower operating and environment cost of the vehicle with
regenerative braking system.

V. Future Scope
As in regenerative braking system about 30% of the energy is
recuperated, also the system of regenerative braking increases
the weight of the vehicle by approximately 25 kgs. So rather than
manufacturing the metallic gears and metallic lywheel, carbon
ibre can be used which will not only reduce the weight of the
system but also it will reduce the transmission loses.

46 InternatIonal Journal of research In MechanIcal engIneerIng & technology w w w. i j r m e t. c o m