Bicycle Regenerative Braking: Redesign for Manufacturability

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked on hydraulic hybrid vehicle technology for cars and trucks, but they are currently interested in having the University of Michigan explore alternative applications, such as bicycles. During the fall of 2006, a student team built a hydraulic regenerative braking system (RBS). However, their prototype was too heavy and large to fit in the front wheel of a standard bicycle. The objective of our project is to redesign the RBS for manufacturability as a true retrofit front wheel on any bicycle. This involves reducing system weight and size, and improving efficiency. Our project will demonstrate the feasibility of this technology to interested bicycle manufacturers.