another charger

[jags]

any good http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8MCZtpotc8

[rualexander]

It's been around for a few years now. I have read a few reports of it failing when connected up and riding without any load on the output.

[il padrone]

"only thing on the market"

The market has changed. The B&M E-werk has come along, The Plug and others; but even these are likely to be superseded by the new Axa Nano and the about-to-be-released B&M Luxos - headlights with USB charging of devices built-in.

[il padrone]

Another technology for battery charging.



  I am left wondering - is this for real?

[Danneaux]

I am left wondering - is this for real?

Previewed here, with linked details
http://www.thorncycles.co.uk/forums/index.php?topic=3802.msg17257#msg17257
...linking to these descriptions as well: http://ktrmurali.wordpress.com/tag/powerpukk/

The basic principle is certainly "real", but this won't be until production models are actually shipping and reviewed in field use.

If the published figures are taken as accurate, it won't be too cheap to operate. In the second link above...

Björn Westerholm, CEO of myFC says "...if the internal battery/buffer is full it will charge more than 2 smartphones or 15 iPods.”

Beyond the expected USD$200-$250 unit price, the PowerPukk cartridge "tins" needed to power the device (along with water or other suitable er, "liquid") will cost USD$4, so that means each charge of a smart phone will cost USD$2. After you've charged twice, you've got to install another tin and dispose of the old one. I'm reminded of disposable butane/propane camp-stove cartridges...which are generally more popular worldwide than liquid-fueled stoves, primarily for their convenience and consistency in use. People are willing to pay for those features even though they are less economical or ecologically sound in the immediate and long run.

Fuel cells have long been the dream of laptop makers, and there has been substantial research into their safety for eventual use aboard commercial aircraft. A quick check of Apple's patents show it is seriously involved in fuel-cell development: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/science-scope/apple-patents-spell-fuel-cell-powered-laptops-smartphones/11784
http://techland.time.com/2011/12/23/apple-posits-fuel-cell-powered-laptops/
The topic arises from time to time, usually with methanol-powered fuel-cells. Ion-exchange membranes aren't quite "there" yet, among other technical challenges to be conquered.

It will be interesting to keep an eye on these. Also, some schoolgirls on the African sub-continent have developed a cheap urea (urine)-powered fuel cell, but it does not seem to produce a net gain in electricity: http://makerfaireafrica.com/2012/11/06/a-urine-powered-generator/ A remarkable accomplishment to be sure, but more promising is this one: http://www.naturalnews.com/029674_fuel_cells_urine.html

As a related aside, another interesting technical use for urea/urine is in diesel exhaust fluid (DEF); metered injection of minute amounts results in a dramatic reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions (NO_x). Mercedes' BlueTec system takes this approach, and when the AdBlue DEF urea (32.5% in water) canister is exhausted, the car won't start until it is replaced at ~10,000mi/16,100km -- sometimes at substantial cost (as much as USD$317+ at some dealers). Drivers tempted to substitute human urine are out of luck; this concentration of urea is inadequate to reset the automobile's fuel-system ignition interlock ( http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1042727_adding-urea-to-clean-diesel-cars-can-i-just-pee-in-the-tank ) Volkswagen use a similar system: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7kkQJO_Oaw

Ain't technology wunnerful? 

Best,

Dan. (...who thinks ignorance [of what goes into things] might sometimes indeed be bliss)