The New nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator) Chargest Your Life
Filed Under: Green Technology, Susatainable Living on June 8, 2009
If you walk places a lot and maybe use a fashionable walking stick to get there, then the nPower PEG is for you. The little PEG means less worries about plugging in your iPod, iPhone, or other gadgets to recharge.
A company called Tremont Electric has figured out how to use the kinetic energy you create bouncing up and down while walking and send it to a portable device with a battery, like your cell phone. Most devices can be charged to about 80% in about an hour using the PEG.
The PEG was invented by another guy named Aaron (no relation) while hiking the Appalachian Trail about ten years ago. Aaron LeMiex built the PEG as a 9 inch by 1.5 inch round little “stick” that weighs about 9 ounces. It’s made of recycled materials and plugs into most portable electronics via USB 2.0. If your cell or MP3 player doesn’t have a small USB plug, there’s doubtless a conversion plug for it.
Basically, you just carry the PEG around with you–in a backpack, your back pocket, a cargo pocket, strapped to your leg, whatever–and plug in your portable. It does the rest. Joggers probably get double the benefit, but I’m just guessing. It does work while on moving objects that jostle, like bikes and buses, so you’re good there too.
These are available now for pre-order and can be ordered with one of two adapters to fit the device of your choice. So if you’re in the habit of lugging your notebook computer while you hike, then you can get a full-sized USB I guess.
The PEG’s marketing materials come with all kinds of hopeful green statements, like “if all of our target market bought one of these” and “25.4 million kilowatts saved.” Whether any of that is realistic or not, the device is a pretty cool idea.
I’ll personally be holding out for the adult-sized roller-skates hidden in the shoe heel kinet recharging system, though.
