Febot, the Wind Powered Battery Charger
by Jaymi Heimbuch, San Francisco, California 
on 11.14.08
Image via Yanko Design
We wish that alkaline batteries were on the way out the door. But reality is that disposable batteries be around for quite awhile longer. Thankfully, though, we have rechargeable options, and clever thinkers are figuring out how to use renewable energy to recharge them. So they’re at least a little bit less burdensome on the environment.
Designers Ji-yun Kim, Soon-young Yang and Hwan-ju Jeon figured out the Febot, a wind-powered battery charger. The Febot can be quickly assembled when you need it – just put it together, pop in a batter, and stick it to a surface like a window where the wind whips by. It's kind of like a HyMini but for batteries.
Image via Yanko Design
While it is only a concept so far, it has potential. Design issues would need to be worked out, such as being able to recharge more than one battery at a time, and appropriate fasteners for easy set-up in different wind conditions.
It’s a great idea for charging batteries while on the go and off grid, as well as using clean energy to get the juice for your gadgets. Maybe we’ll even see it come to market soon.
Via Yanko Design
More on Wind-Powered Gadgets:
Philips Light Blossom: Solar and Wind Powered Streetlight
HYmini Wind-Powered Gadget Charger
Gotwind.org Wind-Powered Cell Phone Charger
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LOL
someone please teach this designer what a stagnation point is... or perhaps a gr. 9 science book?
Nice idea/concept, but I would question its stability in winds. It would certainly need to have a high degree of ballast to be anywhere near useful where I live - or all my batteries would blow away!
Wow, that's awesome.
Why is it a concept? I'm already willing to buy it....
Can you recharge "disposable" batteries, as pictured? Usually, they recommend against it.
@MakeYourOwnWindmill: because it won't work. Putting it near the wall is a bad idea-- zero velocity condition.
TH: please consult with people who understand how stuff works before declaring a "great idea" when something doesn't exist and wouldn't work. Also, alkaline batteries aren't rechargeable.
That aside, I can't get enough of this LOL brilliance:
"Propeller: the shape of sucking wind of nature"
Oh boy, TH getting duped again. Remember, a few weeks ago, the Blade muffler MPG enhancer? TH still refuses to modify that post even though it is the most obvious of scams.
This, while not a scam, is almost as ridiculous for the points made by the above commenters.
TH, with all due respect, you now just suck. You promote the frivolous/wasteful/no rating BS of a channel: Planet Green, and you repeatedly post crap like this.
Stick a fork in you, you're done.
Although entertaining most of the inventions on this site are crap
I'm just not sure I want to get a ladder out and go up to my roof to charge one battery at a time!
:)
I have an LED lantern with a small solar cell on top (only slightly larger than the solar cells found on outdoor garden lighting)
I normally use it for camping, but it makes a great backup light source if the power goes out.
I recharge it in the window sill, and there is no reason why a similar device wouldn't work to recharge your batteries, and in fact you can already buy off the shelf solar battery charges and they do work.