A Bandwidth Enhanced Regenerative Suspension System for Electric Vehicles

This paper proposes a novel energy harvesting methodology utilizing a regenerative vehicle suspension system. Unlike conventional linear generator, this new generator is able to bend the frequency response curve; thus extending the bandwidth of the system. A method of realizing nonlinear stiffness force in a vehicle suspension through a switch-mode power converter with hysteresis current control (HCC) has been presented [1]. Adopting the mechanical–electrical analogy the mechanical stiffness constant maps to an inverse electrical inductor, a new method of inductance emulation using Variable Active–Passive Reactance (VAPAR) has been implemented [2]. The proposed technique is analyzed using perturbation method and its effectiveness is verified through numerical simulations.