Motion-charged mobiles edge closer
Published: 26 Aug 2008 17:05 BST
Next year, M2E Power expects to release a charger that can harvest enough energy from walking to replenish mobile phones or other small gadgets, like GPS devices.
The company said that six hours of cumulative motion can add 30 to 60 minutes of talk time to a mobile phone.
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's device can recharge a phone at a speed comparable to an AC outlet.
Inside the device are a lithium-ion battery and a series of coils and magnets. When the device is moved, an electromagnetic field forms around the coils to generate electricity.
The technology, developed in part at Boise State University, optimises that field to match the slow frequency of human motion and draw a usable current.
The charger unit can also be charged by an AC wall socket. M2E Power has had discussions with mobile-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."
However, it will probably take at least two years before a self-powered mobile phone is commercially available, because such products take a few years to design and develop, 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, depending on the amount of motion experienced.
"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]," Rowe said.
In the long term, the company is looking at placing self-charging devices in hybrid and electric cars. Putting a self-charging device near windscreen 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 obtained military grants to explore the use of self-powering devices such as night goggles.
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