Motion-powered phone charger sashays in

M2E Power, a company formed last year to charge electronic gadgets with human motion, has reported back that its system actually works.

Next year it expects to release a charger that can harvest enough motion from walking to replenish cell phones or other small gadgets, like GPS devices.

It says that six hours of cumulative motion can add 30 to 60 minutes of talk time to a cell phone.

M2E Power's charger, powered by human motion.

(Credit: M2E Power)

The idea is to place the charger inside a purse or backpack and let it charge in the background, said Regan Rowe, director of business development at the company. When fully charged, M2E Power's device stores enough to recharge a phone at a speed comparable to an AC outlet.

Inside is a lithium ion battery and a series of coils and magnets. When it moves, an electromagnetic field forms around the coils to generate electricity.

The technology, developed in part at Boise State University, optimizes that field to match the slow frequency of human motion and draw a usable current.

The charger unit can be charged by an AC wall socket as well. M2E Power has had discussions with cell phone manufacturers to build the generator directly into a phone.

"Handset manufacturers are under pressure to deal with electronic waste issues and show they are looking for more sustainable practices," Rowe said. "We've seen a lot of interest in this as the wave of the future."

But because those products take a few years to design and develop, it will likely take at least two years before a self-powered cell phone is commercially available, Rowe said.

The company is also testing how much charge it can draw from the vibration of vehicles, Rowe said. The amount of charge a generator can make varies a great deal with the amount of motion.

"Someone with an old pick-up truck with no shocks will have a glorious time with M2E technology, but someone with a Mercedes will have to spend more time" charging, she said.

Long term, the company is looking at placing self-charging devices in hybrid and electric cars. Putting a self-charging device near windshield wipers or door locks could significantly cut down on a hybrid car's electrical load and extend its driving range, Rowe said.

The company also has military grants to explore the use of self-powering devices such as night goggles.

[dude7895]

Because it would take 6 hours of motion to charge it enough for 30 minuets of talk time, i probably wouldn't buy it. although the fact that it can charge via wall outlet is an added plus.

[k2dave]

I can see a use for perhaps long distance backpacking, or perhaps cycling.

[ghosford]

It would be great for people like me, who almost never use the cell phone, but I still have to plug it in at night, or else it's beeping "low battery" by the end of the next day. Even for people who use it a lot, it might not take the place of plugging it in, but it might give a little more time before they have to.

It looks fairly small, but my question would be how much does it weigh. Unless they can keep the weight and size down, it might not be worth the minimal boost. For cycling, unless you strapped it to your leg, I wouldn't think that would generate enough movement. Ever cycled with a pedometer clipped to your belt? Bike a mile, and it only measures a few steps. And how many of you habitually shake your leg up and down when you sit, or are annoyed by someone who does? :-) (That sounds worse than I meant it, but I mean the nervous twitch type of thing.) Perhaps body placement is something they can experiment with.

It would probably be more useful for people who are getting in and out of their car all day (deliveries, etc.) as that would generate quite a bit of motion. I'm thinking of UPS - if they're not driving or waiting for someone to sign, they always seem to be running. Or for a production floor manager - walking up and down the plant all day, but still need to be in contact. There could be quite a few uses for this, particularly as the technology develops, but yeah, the average cell phone user might not be the first adopter.

[k2dave]

cycling may not be the best, but perhaps it could be placed on the leg. Then again I would think a solar charger would work better on a bike. as for UPS, most phones have enough power to make it through the day, and heavy delivery type users can use a vehicule recharger. Someone on a production floor constantly walking throughout a plant may be a good use too. Anyone who has 15 minute access to a 110V outlet could most likely do better just plugging in a charger. Also for people who need to recharge during the day, this device has to compete with just getting a second battery.

[shreeg]

More ideas on taking this further :
http://redshifter.blogspot.com/2008/08/cool-tech-human-motion-powered-battery.html

[stigmattaman]

This would be great ... if you hadn't stolen the headline from textually

[stigmattaman]

Never mind, they stole your headline. Sorry.

[Maccess]

While in a car, use a car charger, so I didn't get the point about even thinking of optimizing for that. I do walk a lot, and a device that recharges from normal walking motions would be wonderful. Bicycle chargers would also be great.

[HeavyJim]

Want to be green? Then the majority of people who walk around and worse drive around with cell phones stuck in their ears should just quit using them. I seriously doubt their life will end and most don't need them. Think of all the resources saved by not making batteries, the phones themselves, etc. Won't work though, thats a green idea that would hurt.

[kaykhanittha]

this is a great idea !
http://www.iphone-3g-mobile.com/MOBILE-PHONES/HOW-TO-CHARGE-YOUR-IPHONE-OR-IPOD-TOUCH-WITHOUT-ELECTRICITY-USE-A-MOTION-POWERED-CHARGER

[d_j_vast]

hi just a few ideas for the people who made the M2E Power charger.

"Someone with an old pick-up truck with no shocks will have a glorious time with M2E technology, but someone with a Mercedes will have to spend more time" charging, she said.

I say Make the shock absorbers the thing that is generating the energy.plus a soothe ride. :) face it people love to drive,

like this little thing would go good in a back pack and forgotten for a week...your cell suddenly dies...where is that extra battery? and you find M2E Power charger...your like i'm saved!..now wheres that mp3 player...providing power when needed,most wont use it daily but when its needed its there :)
hell id get 2 just to throw in my trunk.

[d_j_vast]

hi just a few ideas for the people who made the M2E Power charger.

"Someone with an old pick-up truck with no shocks will have a glorious time with M2E technology, but someone with a Mercedes will have to spend more time" charging, she said.

I say Make the shock absorbers the thing that is generating the energy.plus a soothe ride. :) face it people love to drive,

like this little thing would go good in a back pack and forgotten for a week...your cell suddenly dies...where is that extra battery? and you find M2E Power charger...your like i'm saved!..now wheres that mp3 player...providing power when needed,most wont use it daily but when its needed its there :)
hell id get 2 just to throw in my trunk.

[Jon_Snow312]

Cool idea guys - especially recharging mp3 players on the run. This works because it is using human energy generate electricity - which works out well because people who exercise want to expend the energy they get from food.
However, I have a problem with this quote: "Putting a self-charging device near windshield wipers or door locks could significantly cut down on a hybrid car's electrical load and extend its driving range, Rowe said. "
What I believe Rowe is saying is that he thinks the motion of the powered windshield wipers and door locks could recharge the batteries, thus powering themselves. This is simply not true. You'll have to expend extra energy to move the wipers/locks against the resistance of the recharging devices, which will result in a net LOSS of energy, not gain. This is akin to putting a windmill on top of your car - sure, you're generating electricity, but the added wind resistance from the windmill will slow down your car drastically, and you'll end up having to expend more than the little energy you created. I hope for the company's sake Rowe is not involved in the engineering of these devices, or that he at least takes an introductory physics class at some point in the near future.

[NicoleEverson]

thats cool!!

<ahref="http://www.nicoleeversonphotography.com/">Nicole Everson