Eco Factor: Charger harvests renewable energy from bikes.
The demand for eco-friendly gadget chargers has made manufacturers think about solar and wind-powered devices that are great if it’s sunny and windy, but make you go back to the wall socket if the climate isn’t helping. Now a California-based company called High Tide Associates has come up with a device that harvests pedal power for a green recharge.
The device can be fixed onto the rear wheel of a bike, and as you pedal to your office, it harvests enough energy to charge your cellphones and your PMPs. Dubbed the RollerGen, the device churns out a whopping 30W of electrical power that is stored in a small battery called the BOS. Priced at $495, the device is, however, an expensive alternative to some solar chargers available on the market today.
