Microgenerator Firm Gets Charged Up
Startup M2E ("Motion to Energy") has just received funding to develop its microgenerator solutions, which convert the movement of the human body into electricity. Even better, the prototypes—and likely the finished product—fit inside standard battery housings, making it possible to retrofit existing products.
From Earth2Tech:
Working in a lab at the U.S. Energy Department’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL), Chief Scientist Eric Yarger used the principles of Faraday’s law of induction. The law states that moving a conductor through a magnetic field will induce a current in that conductor proportional to the speed of movement. The microgenerators actually fit inside existing batteries, can double the battery life, and can eliminate 30 to 40 percent of toxic heavy metals used in normal batteries, the company claims.The initial market is actually not consumers, but the military, although it will surely trickle down if it is successful.
M2E’s Motion to Energy Nets $8M [Earth2Tech.com]
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Chief Scientist Eric Yarger used the principles of Faraday’s law of induction.
...which is also used by EVERY ELECTRIC GENERATOR on the planet, EVER (not to mention flash drives!).
The technological application in the form factor is the innovation, not the mere use of Faraday's Law of Induction.
FINALLY!! Gathering energy from ambient movement is long overdue. This type of technology should be moved rapidly into general production.
Given that devices such as cell phones are tossed, jiggled, vibrated, and generally on the go most of the time I see no reason they should need to be plugged in to be recharged. By collecting the kinetic energy of its owner, the battery ought to be able to recharge itself on the go.
Well, a pile of steaming hot sh!+ to M2E and anyone else supplying the military.
I think this is the greatest technology ever. Up yours chemical-slut, earth polluting, sht-battery making motherfkrs!