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Published on April 9th, 2012 | by Zachary Shahan

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Kinetic Energy Device Charges Your Electronic Devices with Your Walking, Running, Biking Energy

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April 9th, 2012 by Zachary Shahan 

 
The nPower® PEG is a new “backup battery charger for hand-held electronics that uses the energy you generate while walking, running, or biking.” It can be used to power you iPod, cell phone, etc.

What do you need to do to make this thing work? Not much — just stick it in your bag, backpack, briefcase, or such and it charges itself. As you move around, it will recharge using natural movement vibrations. It’s called a “passive kinetic energy charger” or a “vibration harvesting” charger.

“The nPower® PEG is a smart device which automatically senses your activity, adapts to it, and optimizes energy harvesting,” the company writes.

“For example, the PEG has optimum power output within a frequency range. And it also has the ability to harvest ambient vibrations that are experienced in daily life, such as riding in automobiles and trains or riding a bicycle. nPower’s® electrical output correlates directly to the physical size of the device.”

The serendipitous (or logically planned) benefit of the PEG is that it charges when you’re on the move, and when you’re on the move is when you most need a portable battery charger.

Aaron LeMieux, the founder and inventor of the PEG, has spoken at TEDX about it if you want to learn more about the details and history of the green technology, as well as some potentially bigger future plans:

The PEG is already on the market, and nPower has featured a few very positive user reviews on its website, including this video of some techies and hackers who used it on the way to SXSW:

Now, however, nPower is saying that a “new, more powerful version of the nPower® PEG” will be launching at the beginning of Earth Day weekend — Thursday, April 19 — at the green technology EcoFocus event in NYC. It will also be featured at “Earth Day On The Mall” on April 22 in Washingon, DC.

What do you think of this mobile, consumer tech product?

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About the Author

spends most of his time here on CleanTechnica as the director/chief editor. Otherwise, he's probably enthusiastically fulfilling his duties as the director/editor of Solar Love, EV Obsession, Planetsave, or Bikocity. Zach is recognized globally as a solar energy, electric car, and wind energy expert. If you would like him to speak at a related conference or event, connect with him via social media. You can connect with Zach on any popular social networking site you like. Links to all of his main social media profiles are on ZacharyShahan.com.



  • Bunny

    nPower recently lowered the price on the PEG to $130, making it a bit more affordable, especially combined with the free shipping code, IN5SCKZS.

  • B.Rubble

    I think this is super cool! Great for traveling fools like me who can never count on a reliable power source. This code might be useful, it gets you free shipping from npowerpeg’s web site: IN5SCKZS

  • http://twitter.com/Openvironment Openvironment

    Right on, been waiting for this. Next step: integrate it with clothing and wireless energy transfer so our phones will passively charge in our pockets.

  • David

    Great idea! I think we are getting closer to Zero-Point energy which some people say is getting energy out of the 6-8hz. frequency vibration of the planet Earth! Great to see an Ohio inventor. I am from northeast Ohio and would love to see these wave generators on Lake Erie. Hope he can spearhead this idea!!!

  • http://www.tipsforrecycling.com/ Erica Balk

    Using your own recaptured kinetic energy to power your gadgets…that’s a new way to produce recycled power! I imagine the price will come down in the future?

  • Chaos Zen

    My question would be whether or not it would be more efficient or produce more energy than a simple inductive-motion device, considering it’s much higher pricetag and more invested technology?

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