The Volokh Conspiracy - Power Bumps:

The Guardian reports on British plans to install "'green' speed bumps" that will generate electricity as cars drive over them -- costlessly, of course.

The ramps - which cost between £20,000 and £55,000, depending on size - consist of a series of panels set in a pad virtually flush to the road. As the traffic passes over it, the panels go up and down, setting a cog in motion under the road. This then turns a motor, which produces mechanical energy. A steady stream of traffic passing over the bump can generate 10-36kW of power.

The bumps can each produce between £1 and £3.60 of energy an hour for up to 16 hours a day, or between £5,840 and £21,024 a year. Energy not used immediately can be stored or fed into the national grid.

I share the skepticism at Coyote Blog, but we'll see.

	[Jonathan Adler, February 16, 2009 at 2:34pm] Trackbacks Power Bumps: The Guardian reports on British plans to install "'green' speed bumps" that will generate electricity as cars drive over them -- costlessly, of course. The ramps - which cost between £20,000 and £55,000, depending on size - consist of a series of panels set in a pad virtually flush to the road. As the traffic passes over it, the panels go up and down, setting a cog in motion under the road. This then turns a motor, which produces mechanical energy. A steady stream of traffic passing over the bump can generate 10-36kW of power. The bumps can each produce between £1 and £3.60 of energy an hour for up to 16 hours a day, or between £5,840 and £21,024 a year. Energy not used immediately can be stored or fed into the national grid. I share the skepticism at Coyote Blog, but we'll see.