Here at Techi, it’s no secret that we talk an awful, awful lot about Apple. But can you blame us? Between the iPhone 4 ballyhoo and Steve’s insistence on being so goddamn attractive in that sweater, there’s a lot to talk about. But what are other fine folks up to? Apparently, greening the piss out of the power source industry.
Remember Brother? They make printers. And, had you gone the rest of today without reading this article, you’d have carried on your way content to continue assuming that’s all they make. But this is all sorts of deceitful falsehood – behold, the Vibration Energy Cell battery!
Seriously, this is really cool. Based on the principle of a bicycle light dynamo, the VEC battery farms energy from the vibrations created when the battery is shaken. That’s right. Shake to recharge. Suddenly you’re feeling pretty stupid for dropping 70 bucks on that Duracell charger, right?
Don’t get too excited – with a voltage of only about 3.2V, we’re not going to be shaking our laptops like Etch-A-Sketches any time soon. 3.2V will get you just about enough power to operate a TV remote. But though this alternative has a ways to go, it’s still mighty impressive.
I’m totally stoked to see where this technology goes. Imagine this perfected – just shaking your iPhone every few days to keep its juice up – simple, green, and burns some calories. Which is a plus, because you’re looking a little flabby around the upper arms, there.
Cool!
I would put them in my tennis racket.
And charge while constantly hit balls over the court fence and have to hunt them in the forest.
That seems like easily the most efficient way to vibrate something that isn’t already battery powered.
That and maybe mounting them to your wheels below the suspension.
Perhaps a few years away;
One powerful enough to power an electric motor for a car.
I’m sure there is enough pot holes and bumps and humps around to keep it charging while driving.