Portable PowerPac

We’ve seen a number of systems that allow a bicycle to charge up devices on the go. These typically feature a dynamo but not Ideso has introduced the PowerPac, which works much like larger stationary bike power systems. This device, which recently found the Red Dot “Best of the Best 2012” Design Award, could be the world’s first product to offer removable power storage.

Previously the systems required a cyclist to ride a stationary bike and act much like a generator. This provided power but it wasn’t very portable. The other solution is to mount the dynamo to the bike and juice up a device while going somewhere. The PowerPac seems to be a little of each, and after riding for about 80 minutes or so the battery is what can travel, offering enough power to be used to fully charge or power a smartphone, computer, tablet, camera or other devices. Continue reading Portable PowerPac

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. Video after the jump