Charging Cell Phones With Motion-Recharged Batteries

Photo: M2E Power

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COMMUNITY NEWS

More than three billion people are currently walking around with cell phones. In the United States, 20 percent of them lose power at least once a week. At M2E Power, Inc. we’ve created a way to charge cell phones by capturing energy from everyday motion, such as walking or riding our bikes.

We like the idea of using our own energy to power mobile devices and we’re building a company around this revolutionary technology breakthrough. What is the company and breakthrough? Well, M2E Power is a small renewable energy research and development company based in Boise, Idaho. We hold the exclusive rights to breakthrough electromagnetic technology that promises a whole host of new green power solutions, from self-charging personal electronics to more efficient hybrid vehicles and wind and wave power generators. Right now, we’re developing a mobile external charger that can power a multitude of electronic devices from motion. And, someday soon, we plan to integrate our technology directly into your cell phone.

Our technology began with Eric Yarger, an inventor at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL). Eric, a Vietnam veteran, wanted to help today’s field-deployed soldiers power their mission-critical electronics since some are carrying 20 pounds of extra batteries.

In fact, in Iraq and Afghanistan, soldiers are using so many batteries that, as taxpayers, we are spending about $57,000 per soldier per year for batteries alone. And 75 percent of that battery capacity is wasted as soldiers come off patrol and empty out their partially used batteries for fresh ones. (I can’t say I blame them since running out of battery power could mean the difference between life and death.) However, did you know the U.S. military can now be tracked out on maneuvers by following a trail of discarded batteries?

M2E Power is working with Eric, a small staff of engineers and the military research organizations to further refine our technology for specific military applications. Hopefully, very soon, our soldiers will power some of their electronic devices purely through their movement. Using small motion generators within each electronic device, we can ensure soldier safety and eliminate the environmental waste from excessive batteries.

While losing power on our cell phones doesn’t usually mean life or death for the rest of us, it can be a pain. We’re carrying around all these extra chargers — in our cars, briefcases and in our homes. And, as we continue to add features such as music, cameras and multimedia into our cell phones, we need more and more power. We believe the M2E Power technology offers a novel solution.

Wouldn’t it be nice if taking an extra flight of stairs gave you more juice for your cell phone?

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