Technologies to Recharge Your Cell Phone

Almost everyday cell phone news reports numerous new mobile phones being launched with new features which require more powerful processors where battery life is always a challenge. One major complaint from cell phone users is battery life. The more powerful the phone, the shorter the battery life. Also, as the battery ages, the batter life decreases.

Another problem is if you are out and about and don’t have your cell phone charger or is close to an electrical outlet, your cell phone will die. If you can access an electrical outlet, you have to wait several minutes (about a half hour) to get decent charge. This can be a problem.

Mechanical Energy

There are a few companies looking at new technologies to make recharging your cell phone faster and easier. One company named InStep NanoPower has developed a cheap simple high-power energy harvester to convert mechanical energy via walking into electrical power (up to 20 watts). This power is enough to extend battery time of any cell phone.

Researchers at Simon Frasier University (SFU) in British Columbia has also developed a wearable device that generates electricity from walking and claims to transform the way we charge portable battery-powered devices.

Solar Energy

If you are ever stranded outside in the sun, you can use solar power to recharge your cell phone. There are devices already on the market for purchase that uses solar energy to recharge your cell phone. The solar panels are small enough to attach to your cell phone so when you are outside the phone is being charged. These devices can recharge your cell phone, even if it’s completely dead. A full charge using solar energy can take 6 to 10 hours for most phones. One such company is SolDesign Lab who developed a Solar Pump Charging Station.

Portable Energy

There are several portable chargers on the market that you can travel with, incase you are not close to a charging station. One such device is the Turbocell Charger which uses AA batteries to recharge your phone’s lithium battery up to 2 hours of extra talk time. These devices should only be used as backups incase you find yourself in a situation where you have no access to an electrical outlet.

Wind Energy

Orange, a U. K. based telecommunications firm, in 2007 announced plans to launch the Orange Mobile Wind Charger to recharge portable electronic devices outdoors such as wireless phones.

The Mobile Wind Charger is a mini turbine that connects to the top of a tent and stores power in a control box that you can plug into your mobile phone. The unit is designed for use outdoors and takes about 24 hours to fully recharge the average phone with winds of 12 mph.