Oregon Public Broadcasting

A start-up company in Boise is giving an early peak at a handy new product Monday.  It’s an external battery charger powered by motion.

The technology allows you to charge your cell phone, MP3 player or other mobile device through everyday activities such as walking.   Correspondent Tom Banse has more.

If you’re familiar with those flashlights that charge when you shake them, you’ve seen the physics in play here.

A young Boise company has figured out how to increase the efficiency of moving magnets and coils.

Regan Warner-Rowe directs business development at M2E Power.  She says six hours of everyday activity with the power pack would give you an extra half-hour to hour of talk time.

Regan Warner-Rowe: “You don’t have to run a marathon to charge your phone.  What this is really designed to do is be something you throw in a pocket or purse or backpack.  As you move around, it’s just going to harvest that energy.”

The mini-generator is a spinoff of military research at the Idaho National Lab.  The original assignment was to cut the pounds of batteries soldiers carry for all of their tactical gadgets. 

The earliest you’d see this thing in stores is 2009.  M2E still needs to partner with a major accessories maker to make and distribute the motion-powered charger.

Online:

M2E Power, Inc.