Developing Mechanisms to Capture Waste Energy from EV Motors and Convert It into Usable Electrical Energy

@article{1709564,
      author = {Damfebo Franklin Ayebagbalinyo, Inanumo Emmanuel, Adeinbo Edwin Prince},
      title = {Developing Mechanisms to Capture Waste Energy from EV Motors and Convert It into Usable Electrical Energy},
      journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
      year = {2025},
      volume = {9},
      number = {1},
      pages = {375-380},
      issn = {2456-8880},
      url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1709564.pdf},
      abstract = {Electric vehicles (EVs) use high-efficiency motors (?90% efficient) and regenerative braking to recapture kinetic energy, yet a nontrivial fraction of input power is still lost as waste heat. This paper investigates mechanisms to harvest waste heat from EV motors and recover it as electricity, supplementing existing regenerative braking systems. We review literature on thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and other recovery methods in automotive applications, then describe a simulation of an EV driving cycle with regenerative braking and an integrated TEG on the motor. The simulation quantifies energy flows: battery energy used, kinetic energy recovered, and heat losses. Results indicate that, in typical city-stop driving, regenerative braking can recover on the order of 50?60% of braking energy, whereas motor waste heat is much smaller (on the order of 10% of power input). A practical TEG on the motor (assumed 5% conversion efficiency) would only recover a few watts (?0.3% of brake heat), yielding negligible battery energy compared to regen. However, even a few watts could power sensors or auxiliaries. We discuss simulation results, illustrate energy balances in tables, and suggest that waste-heat recovery in EVs remains challenging but offers marginal gains in efficiency.},
      keywords = {Electric Vehicle (EV), Waste Heat Recovery, Thermoelectric Generator (TEG), Regenerative Braking, Energy Simulation.},
      month = {July},
  }