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Mobile phones are meant to be just that -- mobile. So it's about time charging them became ultra mobile, too. Network provider O2 may have come up with the answer with its very cool-looking pedal-powered charger.
Not to be outdone by Orange, which is trialling a dance-powered charger and a solar- and wind-powered charging tent at Glastonbury, O2 is showcasing its new charging method at the O2 Wireless Festival in Hyde Park in London from 3 to 6 July 2008. The company is letting people charge up their mobiles by pedalling on its BMX, Chopper and racer-style bicycles. There is a snag though: there won't be any chatting on the move as the bikes are fixed to the ground. Not as mobile as I first thought, but it's still a green alternative to plugging into the mains -- and as there aren't many plug sockets in the park it could be your only option.
Creating power this way sounds like quite a bit of effort, especially if you're not going anywhere, but it got me thinking. O2 should sell this pedal-powered charger as an actual product -- that would be some serious mobile charging. It could either charge the phone as you cycle, or store up juice and charge your mobile phone once you've arrived at your destination.
If you ride a bike to work you'd no longer need a spare charger in your desk drawer. Or what about installing these in gyms? Or at home to encourage people to exercise more? Maybe I'm getting carried away, but I did ask O2 whether they had plans to market it and the answer was: "Not for the forseeable future." I think that's a shame.
The O2 festival itself is also aiming to be the greenest ever, with the usual recycling initiatives and carbon offsetting schemes and a few new ideas on top. Much of the fencing around the site will be made from recycled plastic bottles, leftover cooking oil will be converted into biodiesel and excess food will be donated to the homeless.
If you're after less strenuous but equally mobile ways of charging your phone, check out SmartPlanet's guide to solar chargers and our review of the HYmini wind charger.
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