No Touching Dynamo Lights the Way

There is a saying the close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades, but it soon close could be enough when it comes to providing light for bicycles. Right now there are two ways to get light to shine the way – either have it powered by a battery or utilize a dynamo-powered light that works by utilizing the motion of the bike itself. The latter is green, but can still slowly wear down the tire and it requires extra effort for the rider.

Now German inventor Dirk Strothmann has created a small, no-contact, self-contained dynamo bike light that makes close close enough. So how does it work? Simple enough actually, instead of friction it works magnetically where the spinning wheel and the magnets in the dynamo take advantage of eddy currents, with the result being electric energy from the metallic rims.

What also makes this possible is the innovation and evolution of CREE LEDs, which can shine the way with 150 lumens when the bike is traveling at speeds of 16mph. As with other dynamo-powered lights it doesn’t work when the bike is stopped, but in the future Strothmann believes that a battery cell could be incorporated.

Currently Strothmann is raising money via a KickStarter campaign. What a bright idea on so many levels!

[Via Kickstarter: Magnic Light: Ger New Energy!]