Electric Power Generation Using Stationary Bicycle
Muhammad Furqan
mfqn03@gmail.com
Abstract—In the age we live, despite all the technological
advancements, there are many people in this world who still lack
access to electricity. Connecting them with the grid and use of
fossil fuels for power generation are the solutions which come
along with their own problems. In order to support these people,
an inexpensive standalone system for power generation is
required. This paper presents an idea for power generation using
human energy expended on bicycle as the power source. The
problems associated with the current designs of harvesting
human energy have been identified and addressed.
Keywords—pedal power generation; clean energy; air turbine
I. INTRODUCTION
The electric power with which we power up our electrical
appliances in our homes, offices etc., is made available to us
by a system referred to as grid. The grid in any country is
usually supported by its government and for its establishment,
maintenance and expansion, substantial financial resources are
required. According to International Energy Agency, 14% of
world’s population, i.e., an estimated 1.1 billion people,
mostly in underdeveloped and developing countries, lack
access to electricity. Around 84% of these people live in rural
areas [1]. A standalone system for generating electric power is
required to support people in these countries because of the
problems associated with the grid system.
The most used energy products in the world’s energy
supply in 2015 were oil (31.7%), coal (28.1%) and natural gas
(21.6%) [2]. Rising energy needs, diminishing fossil fuel
supplies, detrimental effects on environment and human health
caused by toxic emissions have all led to the search for cleaner
and sustainable energy sources.
Using human power gives a power source that is
renewable and uses no fossil fuels. Besides, unlike other
renewable energy systems, it is reliable in the absence of
sunlight, wind and water. The energy released as a result of
workout on exercise bikes in fitness centers or at home, is
dissipated into the atmosphere. This energy can be converted
into electrical energy and added into the local power network
or stored in batteries for future consumption. In addition to
being easily operable by almost anyone, the system can be
designed to be compact and easily transportable.
The disadvantage of human power as energy source is that
it can yield only small amounts of electrical power. Thus, we
can power up only small battery operated gadgets like
communication devices, laptops, bulbs, blenders, radios etc.
This makes human power generation perfect for use in remote
areas, hilly regions, islands etc.
According to [3], data for 24 people, aged from 16 to 61
years old, riding a bicycle for 17 km (10 miles) were recorded
and analyzed. The average power of a biker, it was observed,
varied between 215 W to 375 W. It was observed that “healthy
humans” can sustain approximately 75 W (0.1 hp) for a full 8-
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hour period, while “first class athletes” can sustain
approximately 300 W (0.4 hp). For a medium-sized gym, with
15 bikes, the output would tend to be fifteen times more.
These numbers are promising and justify the attempt for
harvesting part of this energy efficiently.
Problems with the typical designs that are used for power
generation through pedaling have been identified in this paper
and a design is proposed which covers those problems. The
rest of this paper is organized as follows: Section 2 presents
the literature review and Section 3 presents a review on two of
the designs in use. Section 4 presents the proposed system
which harvests the energy spent on workout on a bicycle.
Section 5 presents the functionality of the system followed by
discussion in Section 6. Section 7 presents conclusions and
future plans regarding the current solution.
II. LITERATURE REVIEW
Throughout human history, arms, hand, and back have
generally been employed to apply energy. The invention of the
sliding-seat rowing boats and the bicycles dawned the era in
which the legs also began to be viewed as “normal” means of
getting power from human muscles [4].
According to T. Dean [5], human legs carry about four
times more strength than human arms. The human
musculature is concentrated in our legs and pedaling is the
most efficient way of making use of the human muscle power
[6]. Treadles have been commonly employed to use power
from human legs [7]. Examples include sewing machines, foot
pumps, threshers etc.
McCullagh [8] states that in terms of energy spent by a
person, bicycling is one of the most efficient forms of
electrical power generation. The availability of abundant and
low-cost electrical energy in the early 20th century brought the
interest in human power conversion to a halt. However, in
recent years, electricity generation by means of human power
has undergone a revival [7] due to various factors, like its ease
of accessibility in emergency situations, for example,
earthquakes, storms etc., high cost of power from solar and
wind operated systems and environmental concerns like global
warming, air contamination etc., caused by other power
sources.
As early as 2007, fitness facilities throughout the world
have begun searching for possibilities of utilizing human
generated power. ReRev, based in Clearwater, Florida, has
wired up 150 machines at more than a dozen gyms throughout
the United States. Their strategy centers around making use of
the in-built DC generators in the training machines that power
up the monitoring consoles and are also used to increase the
resistance experienced during the workout. Replacing internal
resistance with external, the electrical output generated from
each machine is wired to a central unit containing an inverter.
The inverter converts the DC power to AC which is added as a
supplement to the electrical system of the building [9].
Similarly, the energy generated by members on 13 cycling and
cross training machines in California Fitness facility in Hong
Kong is converted to electrical power which is used to lighten
fixtures in the gym [10].
Electric power generation using bicycle is used primarily
for recreational and academic purposes due to low efficiency
of the system. However, with the improvements in efficiency
and cost of the system, it is hoped that its large scale
availability can be made possible.
III. REVIEW ON PREVIOUS DESIGNS
Human power conversion through used bicycle is not a
new research area. The research is ongoing wherein increasing
the power output and lowering the cost of the system are the
main objectives. There are two general designs that are in use.
In the design proposed in [11] and shown in fig. 1, friction
belt drive is used to transmit pedal motion to the generator
shaft. In this set-up, bicycle’s rear tire is removed along with
the tube. A V-belt is passed over the rim. The rim acts as a
Figure 1. Generator driven by belt drive.
driver pulley. The other end of the belt is passed over a pulley
that is connected with a DC motor. The output of the generator
is connected with a stabilizer since pedaling is expected not to
be constant. The stabilized output voltage charges the battery
and power is stored. An inverter receives the output from the
battery and converts it to usable AC power supply.
The problem with this design is that slippage losses
between the belt and the rim cause drop in efficiency of the
generator output, particularly so if the bicycle is operated in
moist conditions. Furthermore, removing the tire for power
generation and fixing it back for outdoor cycling requires
specialized tools and is time consuming. Thus, this design is
suited to a bicycle dedicated for power generation only.
In the design proposed in [12] and shown in fig. 2, the rear
wheel of the bicycle directly connects to the shaft of the
generator. Movement (rotation) is transferred between the
wheel and the cylinder based on the friction between them.
The energy produced by the user while using the bike is
harvested and transformed into electric energy using the
automotive alternator with integrated voltage regulator and
then stored into batteries. With the aid of an inverter, the
stored energy is converted from DC to AC and added to the
power network.
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Figure 2. Generator is driven by direct contact with the rear wheel.
This option is a bit simpler to implement; however, the
efficiency of the contact is relatively low due to slippage
losses and frictional losses. This setup causes significant wear
and tear on the tires. This may force replacement of tire every
six months or so if the bicycle is used exclusively with the
generator, or more often if it is being ridden out on the road as
well.
In both the above designs, if multiple bicycles are used,
each bicycle requires a separate generator. The output from
each generator is added and then regulated and stored. After
battery, generators are the most expensive components in the
system. Thus, with the addition of more bicycles in the
system, the overall cost increases significantly due to the
addition of generators.
The tubular battery that is used for power storage has
typical charge efficiency of only 70%, thus too much energy is
lost in transformation [13]. The battery has other problems as
well like [14]:
Overcharging and overuse of battery can result in loss
of electrolyte thus causing battery failure.
They use lead compounds which are toxic; long-term
exposure to them can cause health problems.
It should be ensured that the battery is not discharged
fully; otherwise recharging becomes harder.
Electrolyte used in the battery is in the form of sulfuric
acid. It is highly corrosive and emits gases during the
battery recharge process. It explodes on ignition and
may lead to severe injuries.
The capacity of the battery to recharge is reduced if it
is left discharged for a long period of time.
The process in which deposits are formed on the plates
of the battery is called sulphation and it results in
premature battery failure. If a battery is allowed to
remain undercharged, then with time, it will begin to
sulphate.
A battery should be charged fully during winter
storage; otherwise the prospect of electrolyte freezing
can cause damage to the plates or crack the casing of
the battery.
Corrosion and breakage of terminals, vibration, and old
age can all cause loss of electrolyte.
The design proposed in the next section is a novel design
which aims at removing the problems identified above.
 IV. PROPOSED DESIGN
Fig. 3 shows the design proposed whereas fig. 4 shows the
block diagram of the system.

Figure 4. Block diagram of the system.

Figure 3. Bicycle powered electricity generating system.

A simple and modular system is designed that can be used

both in gyms and at home without special mechanical or
electrical skills. The main objective of the system is to get the
generator to turn at maximum rpm by minimizing the power
losses in the system. The major components are as follows:
A. Bicycle
A single-speed fixed-gear bike is used. The purpose of
bicycle is to convert human energy into mechanical energy.
Using a driving mechanism, the mechanical energy is
converted into electrical energy. It is essential to maximize the
power output from both conversions in order to maximize the Figure 5. Bicycle trainer and chain-drive mechanism.
efficiency of the system.
B. Bicycle Trainer key coupled. The idea of attaching the sprocket this way was
inspired from this source [15]. A drive chain is meshed with
Bicycle trainer shown in fig. 5 is used to keep the bicycle this sprocket and a freewheel. The freewheel rotates a shaft
steady and support the weight of the user and the bicycle. The
trainer connects with the rear wheel hub and allows free which drives a scotch-yoke mechanism and a DC Motor.
rotation of the wheel while lifting it slightly above the ground.
The trainer is designed such that it can be used with virtually D. Flywheel
any type of bicycle. In this way, the bicycle can be used as a While pedaling a stationary bicycle, the force exerted by
road bicycle as well as an indoor fitness bicycle. the feet is not consistent which results in jerky motion. As a
C. Chain Drive result, strain is exerted on the legs. Because of its large mass
and rotation, a flywheel can even out this jerky motion
Chain drive is used to transmit pedal motion to the resulting in smooth pedaling and increased output since the
designed system. These drives have greater efficiency (98%) user will not tire out quickly. The obvious disadvantage of a
as compared to belt drives (80%) and wear is also much less flywheel is its weight. In the proposed design, a stationary
[6]. A sprocket is connected with the left side of the rear wheel bicycle is used in which the wheel of the bike acts as a
hub as shown in fig. 5. The sprocket can either be welded or flywheel.

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E. Air Compressor
Compressors are devices which require work input to
compress a fluid in order to increase its pressure. Air, which is
abundantly available, is compressed to a higher pressure. The
manufacture of pneumatic accessories and components is
simple and cost-effective [16].
Scotch yoke mechanism as shown in fig. 6 is used to
compress air. Two pistons are directly coupled to a sliding
yoke. The yoke has a slot that engages a pin on a circular disc.
The rotational motion of the disc is converted into linear
motion of the yoke. Pistons and cylinders of two foot pumps
are connected with the sliding yoke. Foot pumps are used due
to their ease of availability and low cost. They typically have a
pressure range of 90-120 PSI. The compressed air from the
piston-cylinder action is delivered to a primary storage tank.
Figure 6. Scotch-yoke mechanism based reciprocating compressor.
F. Primary air storage tank
The purpose of the primary air storage tank is to store
small amount of compressed air for instant use in power
generation while pedaling. A ball valve and a pressure
regulating valve are connected at two separate exits of the tank
while two check valves are connected at the inlet. Compressed
air is received from the piston-cylinder system. The pressure
regulating valve is used to provide a steady jet of compressed
air to the turbine. A pressure gauge is used to measure the
pressure in the tank. The ball valve can be opened by the user
to fill another tank - the secondary air storage tank. A
modified fire extinguisher tank with tank capacity of 0.5
Gallon, air pressure of 100 PSI, and air flow capacity of 0.6
CFM at 90 PSI and 1 CFM at 40 PSI is used. Fig. 7 shows the
primary air tank as painted red.
Figure 7. Air storage tanks.
G. Secondary air storage tank
The main purpose of secondary air storage tank is to serve
as an alternative to battery by storing compressed air for use in
power generation later on. A pressure gauge at the exit of the
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tank is used to measure pressure inside the tank. Two
manually operated ball valves are used to control the inflow
and outflow of air. The tank used has a capacity of 3 Gallons
with rest of the specifications same as the primary tank. Fig. 7
shows the secondary air tank as painted red.
H. Pressure Regulating Valve
A pressure regulating valve is used at the turbine-side exit
of the primary air storage tank. Its purpose is to adjust the
pressure of the air coming out of the tank to match what is
needed for the turbine. The desired pressure is set using a
spring operated knob. A pressure gauge is used to measure the
pressure at the inlet of the valve.
I. One-way valve
One-way / non-return valves or check valves are used at
the inlets of the primary storage tank and the air turbine. Their
purpose is to allow flow of compressed air in only one
direction and prevent backflow.
J. Ball Valve
A ball valve controls the flow of fluid through a pipe. Two
ball valves are used; one with each tank.
K. Air Turbine
Air turbines contain a wheel with blades on its periphery.
A fast-flowing flow of air or steam is used to rotate a shaft
coupled with the wheel. In operation, when a high-pressure,
low-velocity gas is passed through a nozzle, it expands,
creating a low-pressure, high-velocity gas jet. The jet is then
impinged upon the blades of the wheel, through an inlet port,
and torque is produced. Expanded air is then released into the
atmosphere through an exit port. Air turbines can have a very
good power-to-weight ratio and run at very high speeds. Their
efficiency can be in the range from 65 to 75 % [17]. The air
turbine selected has capability to yield an output of 2000–3000
rpm at 90 PSI air pressure and is shown in fig. 8.
Figure 8. Air Turbine.
L. Permanent Magnet DC Motor
A 12-volt 250 Watt DC motor is used which is coupled
with the air turbine. The wattage of the motor depends on the
load that is desired to be powered. The motor is securely
mounted to the stand.
An alternator would have been a more efficient choice than
a DC motor since it produces usable AC voltage, but to make
the field coil of the alternator an electromagnet, an initial
current is required. Simply rotating the coil does nothing.
Therefore, a battery is needed from which the field coil draws
its initial current until the alternator starts producing its own
electricity [18]. In the system designed, battery is not used;
therefore, alternator is not a practical choice.
M. Inverter
The output DC voltage from the motor is fed to a 300 Watt
inverter system which converts it into AC voltage for
consumption by household appliances.
V. SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY
When the user pedals the bicycle, two chain-sprocket
mechanisms transmit rotary motion of the pedals to the
reciprocating motion of the sliding yoke. The sliding yoke in
turn causes two pistons to compress air in two single-acting
cylinders. Thus with each rotation of the bicycle cranckset, we
get two compression strokes. The compressed air from each
cylinder is made to enter a primary storage tank through PVC
hoses. Check valves at the end of each hose ensure that the
compressed air will not be drawn into the cylinder back again
during the suction stroke. The pressure at which the air turbine
is desired to be operated is set using a pressure regulating
valve at the exit of the primary tank. When the pressure in the Figure 10. Generator 2 with gear drive.
The difference in rpm of motor 1 and motor 2 gives a
tank increases this value, air in the tank exits the tank, and measure of the efficiency of the system. The rpm can be
impinges onto the turbine blades. After some time, when the measured using a tachometer.
pressure in the tank drops, the valve cuts off the air supply to
the turbine. The amount of harvested energy is a time variable
depending on the number of users, and the intensity of the
The turbine is coupled with a DC motor. The rotation of exercise. As shown in fig. 11, this system is more effective for
the turbine causes the motor to produce DC voltage. This use in settings like fitness centers or where multiple bicycles
voltage is converted into AC using an inverter. Resistance is are used.
experienced in pedaling as the current is generated. This
resistance increases with the load.
The primary air storage tank is also connected with a
larger secondary air storage tank by means of a hose. A ball
valve is used to control air supply to this tank as shown in fig.
9. The purpose of this tank is to act as a storage reservoir for
compressed air which can be used to run the turbine. A
pressure gauge tells the exit pressure reading. Air from both
the primary and the secondary tanks may be used
simultaneously to run the turbine or air from one of the tanks
may be used while keeping the exit of other tank closed. Fig. 9
shows the schematic of the pneumatic system.

Figure 11. Electricity generation with multiple bicycles.

Figure 9. Schematic of the Pneumatic System.
Another DC motor (generator 2) is connected with the
chain driven shaft by means of spur gears as shown in fig. 10.
The purpose of using this motor is to evaluate the effect of
compressor, storage tanks, valves, hoses, and turbine on net
energy loss in the system. The motor is not connected with
any of these components. By comparing the power generated
by this motor with the power generated by the motor that is
connected with the above components, we can get an idea of
effect of these components on efficiency of the system.
VI. DISCUSSION
Attempts have been made previously on making an
estimate of the potential of human beings to generate electric
power using a stationary bicycle. Michael Bluejay has put
forward his estimation in [19]. He concluded that consumption
of energy by human beings is more than what they generate,
therefore electric power generation using bicycle is an
inefficient technique. The current work does not object to
what he concluded; it focuses on transforming the effort that is
already being wasted while exercising into useful electric
energy.
The designed system is capable to scavenge some of the
energy produced by the rider on a stationary bicycle.
Mechanical as well as electrical losses in the system tend to
lower the collected energy. The two main sources of energy
loss identified in any typical pedal power generation system
are internal energy losses in the battery (10-35%), and voltage
regulator (about 25%) [20]. In the proposed design, these two
electrical components have not been used and instead, air
turbine, storage tanks, and flow regulating valve have been
introduced. Further efficiency of the system can be increased
by designing the important components like chain-sprocket
drive and electric generator specifically for pedal power
generation instead of improvising them. The length of the
hoses should be kept to minimum to prevent pressure loss.

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The future research will be focused on optimization
analysis of the design, its implementation and
experimentation.
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