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Abstract

A road-based energy harvesting system that converts kinetic energy from passing traffic to electricity using a hydraulic motor, powered from a pressurised fluid in a closed circuit, which drives an alternator. The system may have two platforms, operating in a see-saw fashion to transfer torque to compress at least one piston in a cylinder. During a first half cycle the piston performs a high-pressure stroke with a first working hydraulic fluid and during the second half cycle the at least one piston performs a low-pressure stroke with a second working fluid, such as air. The system may include a vehicle recognition system for detecting the mass of an oncoming vehicle and varies the resistance of at least the first piston in a cylinder to optimise energy extraction.

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First Claim