Imagine a car seat or dashboard that can power its own sensors without needing a battery or wires. This technology uses special bio-based inks to print a tiny energy harvester and storage unit directly onto the plastic or fabric. It turns vibrations from the car moving into electricity, making the electronics greener and easier to recycle.
Automotive and textile industries struggle with the weight, volume, and environmental impact of traditional batteries and wiring for sensors. There is a critical need for sustainable, recyclable, and lightweight power sources that don't rely on critical raw materials.
A self-charging power system consisting of a PLA-based piezoelectric energy harvester, a rectifying circuit, and a biobased supercapacitor, all created using inkjet-printed inks.
If you are a component manufacturer dealing with heavy wiring harnesses for cabin sensors — this project developed a printable power system that harvests energy from vibrations to feed temperature and humidity sensors. This reduces the weight and volume of smart products in seats and brackets.
If you are a textile producer dealing with the difficulty of integrating rigid batteries into clothing — this project developed biobased conductive and piezoelectric inks for one-shot hybrid textiles. This allows for flexible, self-charging electronics integrated directly into the fabric.
If you are a supplier dealing with the complexity of embedding sensors in carbon or glass fiber parts — this project developed a system for in-mold structural electronics using autoclave/sheet moulding. This enables integrated strain sensors powered by the material's own vibrations.
Based on available project data, specific pricing is not provided, but the objective is to create solutions that are cheaper and less energy consuming than current electronics.
Yes, the project uses inkjet printing, which is described as a high throughput and easy-to-implement process designed for scalable manufacturing.
Based on available project data, there is no specific mention of patents or licensing terms, though the project involves 13 partners including 4 industry members.
Integration is achieved through plastic injection over moulding, one-shot hybrid textile processes, and autoclave/sheet moulding for composites.
The project period runs from 2022-09-01 to 2026-08-31, suggesting the technology is currently in the development and validation phase.
The consortium is well-balanced for commercialization, consisting of 13 partners across 6 countries. With a 31% industry ratio (4 companies) and 4 SMEs, there is a strong link between the 3 universities and 5 research centers and the actual market needs of the automotive sector.
Contact FUNDACION TEKNIKER in Spain for technical specifications on biobased inks.
Contact us to connect with the SUINK consortium for licensing bio-based printable electronics.
