A New Jersey Burger King has installed “MotionPower Energy Harvesters” or energy generating speed bumps. The idea is to transfer kinetic energy from the weight of the slow moving car to the speed bump. The bump (which is actually pretty flat) can generate 2,000 watts of electricity from a car moving at five miles per hour. However this energy must be used immediately so engineers are trying to find ways to store the power for later use via flywheels and other technologies. If all goes well, we could see this technology used at shopping malls, toll plazas and other areas where drivers go slowly and power is needed nearby.
via inhabitat
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bad idea – the energy comes from the car, which burns gasoline and creates exhaust (duh!) – less clean than a modern efficient powerplant!