Images courtesy of bikehugger.com
Charging your device with pedal power is nothing new, but where are we now as far as advancements? The development was starting early in 2006 where a dynamo could be attached to a bicycle to power devices. If you had an iPod, there was a lot of interest in being able to charge it in innovative ways. Some of the early setbacks were being able to gain enough speed to keep a relatively steady charge as well as enough output. Well, innovation and advancement has brought self-charging to a more efficient and available market.
Dahon will introduce the BioLogic FreeCharge, a device that connects to any dyno hub on the market to charge your iPod, iPhone, GPS unit, or other small electronic item through a USB port. The BioLogic FreeCharge generates electricity via the hub into a high-capacity battery, which in turn supplies steady current to your device. Thus the FreeCharge protects your electronics from the wildly variable output of the dyno hub. The FreeCharge uses a silicon casing to secure the unit to the bike and provide sealing to the charger.
Despite a 3 hour charge time for your iPhone, you would still be able to use your device while it’s charging. Biker enthusaists would have no problem whatsoever. Dahon has planned to include this charger as a standard component on two bikes, the Ios XL and the Speed TR. Purchased on its own, the BioLogic FreeCharge will be available as a stand alone unit for about $99 next March.
