ecofriend.com

Eco friendly products powered by piezoelectric materials

Piezoelectricity is inherently a green energy source as it really does not require you to burn any kind of fuel other than a bit of energy to do mechanical work. Piezoelectric materials have an ability to convert mechanical energy into electricity and the other way around as well. Experts across the globe are working hard for creating materials and devices that can convert out mundane actions into energy and thus produce some clean power. We already use watches and other little gadgets that work on ‘movement’. But what if we could translate the same principle on a grander scale? Here are ten such product designs that attempt to do exactly that.

Solar Piezoelectric Hybrid Fiber

How about donning a pair of shirts and a tee for your morning jog that can charge your iPhone and then also produce enough energy to light up a LED lamp or two after you get home? That is exactly what researchers at University of Bolton are planning as they try and create a piezoelectric fabric. They are almost there and when such products hit the store shelves, they will surely transform the fashion world.

Ecopad

Korean designers Yonggu Do, Jun-se Kim and Eun-ha Seo have come up with an interesting concept that might get some of the smartphone makers interested. They want to convert all that tapping of touchscreens on tablets and smartphones into piezoelectric power. Installation of such units might be a bit cumbersome, but we like the idea of a mobile that is self charging.

Piezoelectric Energy Harvester

Industrial designer Benjamin Wright feels that all that energy used by farmers when it comes to harvesting should not go to waste. So he taps into piezoelectricity as he tries to convert the mechanical work involved in threshing and grain pounding into clean energy. Dubbed as the Piezoelectric Energy Harvester, this little golf club like device will both convert mechanical energy into power and then store it in an inbuilt battery.

P-Eco electric concept vehicle charges its batteries with piezoelectricity

Jung-Hoon Kim has conjured up this concept car that pretty much runs on only piezoelectric power. The P-Eco has a wire system on the inside, which vibrates as soon as the car is set in motion. The faster you go, the greater the vibration and hence greater is the piezoelectric power generated.

Zeri Phone – A basic cellphone with renewable energy generating prowess

Paul Frigout has gone a step beyond the usual design constraints of piezoelectric power and has used vibrations of air molecules and interactions of metal surface with air to generate energy. That is what he proposes from his concept creation called Zeri Phone. If you walk around a couple of blocks with the Zeri phone in your hand or take a walk on the beach on a windy day, it pretty much charges itself up.

Piezoelectric Shower

The shower has a series on ‘nano wires’ embedded on the inside, which tap into the movement of flowing water and convert it into power that heats up your shower using piezoelectricity. The idea sounds very plausible and it would be nice to have a prototype out soon so that we can stop wasting all that grid power on heating water in the shower.

POWERleap tiles

This is a technology that seems very rational, completely usable and already in place in some select pubs and discos in Europe. The POWERleap tiles allow you to convert the energy that you use in walking and running around your own home into electric energy. Many disco floors in Europe already have technology on similar lines. It is practical and realistic and if you have kids at your place, you will have no problem lighting up your home with this clean energy.

Bright Walk illuminates your run on renewable energy

If you are one of those who is up before the sun and wishes to go on a jog without having to illuminate your way with a flashlight, then Bright Walk shoes are designed for you. The shoes carry electroluminescent polymers, which are powered by your running or jogging movement. These seem like a great idea for miners and explorers as well.

Sound Charge t-shirt

This t-shirt from Orange is already available in market and it can charge your smartphone in the middle of nowhere. Just like the name suggests, all it needs is sound. And we are not talking ‘rock concert’ levels of sound. Common street noise will do. Though the charging takes a lot more time than normal grid outlet, you can get the much needed emergency power to charge your mobile with ease.

Tesla E-Max Bike

Designed by Madella Simone this super bike is equipped with a layer of piezoelectric material on the top that will produce power for the bike as you speed along the road. The concept designer does not promise you that it will power the bike completely as it does have conventional engine inside, but it can cut down on fuel consumption a fair bit.

Today's Top Articles:

Scroll to Top