The Appalachian Trail leads to new kinetic energy technology
Aaron LeMieux got the idea for a new type of kinetic energy charger from hiking the Appalachian Trail. He has named his new technology nPower. He has envisioned three different uses for nPower, personal, commercial and biomedical. The first device, an nPower PEG (Personal Energy Generator) will be available in July.
Mr. LeMieux wanted to charge small electronic devices while he was hiking the wilderness trail but didn’t want to carry disposable batteries that are harmful to the environment. He realized that there was a lot of kinetic energy being generated as he walked but no way to harness it for charging his devices.
Once he returned home to Ohio, he began devising a new technology that would be light to carry and would charge a device while you walked, ran, biked or even kayaked. LeMieux developed nPower technology and started Tremont Electric to develop his technology into usable devices.
Unlike other kinetic energy devices like M2E Power and the Gotwind Dance Charger prototype, Mr. LeMieux’s devices are frequency driven and do not contain a battery for energy storage or generation. Instead his devices use kinetic energy frequencies to recharge your cell phone or MP3 player. The most amazing part of nPower is that it can recharge a battery to 80 percent power in only one hour. Most other chargers take nine or more hours.
The nPower PEG is a single gadget charger. It is expected to be compatible with 90 percent of all cell phones, mp3 players, and portable gaming gadgets. The nPower PEG will use a mini USB cable and adaptors to connect with various devices. It will let you recharge one gadget at a time while walking, running, biking, or kayaking.
Because Tremont Electric sees nPower as scalable, the company is currently working on an nPower WEC (Wave Energy Convertor) that would use nPower technology to generate utility scale electricity from waves in lakes and oceans that are too small for most wave power generators. This can be done because the WEC uses frequencies and not just kinetic energy.
The smallest use for nPower technology envisioned by LeMieux is as a Biomedical Implantable Generator (BIG) that would power such items as pacemakers and automatic defibrillators. As more implantable technologies are developed in the biomedical field, using a BIG for power would work well. There would be no problem with needing to change out batteries.
One of the best features of this technology is that there is no need for a battery. That means less maintenance with fewer parts to worry about and no batteries to replace or dispose of. The lack of battery means that the nPower Peg is light, only nine ounces and easy to carry.
One of the worst features is that it doesn’t have a battery to store any extra energy you might generate while walking, running or biking so that you can continue charging while standing in line, waiting for a bus or sitting at your desk. Other chargers are available that will allow you to store excess energy but not the nPower PEG.
The device is great for people who love outdoor sports because you can use it anywhere no matter how remote. Neither sun nor wind are required, only your movement. However that movement will need to be constant for at least an hour to get an 80 percent battery charge.
The nPower PEG is an excellent choice for extended hiking/biking/camping/kayaking trips but not really the best choice for people taking short walks in the neighborhood.
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January 17th, 2011
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