Pedal charge your laptop with a cycling generator

A US design firm, Pedal Power, has created two cycling generators, Big Rig and Pedal Genny, which produce electrical power. The device generates enough electric power to charge your laptop and helps you burn calories too.

The company stated that, The Pedal Genny is a portable, single function machine with an optional seat, but does not have a work surface. It features a flywheel for smooth pedaling, an all-steel, hand-built frame and full-size cranks. The device can be used for generating electricity, pumping water, and can be easily configured to power most any mechanical device requiring less than 1 horsepower.

The second machine called Big Rig is designed for off-grid applications and features a work surface, with an ergonomic seat for comfort and can make quick adjustments for different riders. It has a flywheel to smooth pedaling, an all-steel hand-built frame and comes with a wide range of gearing.

The company stated on its website that an average adult can use it to generate 100 watts of electricity, operate an air compressor, a hydraulic pump or any hand-cranked machine. The machine has been found to be suitable for small scale agricultural applications such as churning butter, cracking grains and pumping water.

"There are a billion bicycles in the world today -- nearly one in every home. One day, we hope to see every household charging phones, processing food, and pumping water with pedal power," states the team.

"With an efficiency of 97 per cent, bicycle technology is nearly perfect. So why do we use it only for transportation? Bicycle technology can and should be used for many everyday tasks. Using your own power rather than plugging into the grid is not only fun, but helps you understand your energy use and reduce your ecological footprint," the company said.

Source : ET