Have you ever woken up to a completely dead phone, realizing you forgot to charge it the night before? Have you ever been stuck in traffic while driving around Portland? Realizing that many people would probably answer “yes” to both of these questions, Cycle Charge + has created a solution.
Their concept is to establish a more efficient mobile phone charging source, which is powered by energy created from riding a bicycle. It’s a solution that not only helps limit unnecessary energy usage, but helps to promote bicycle riding – reducing our carbon footprint and promoting a healthier society.
“Our invention, Cycle Charge +, is a bicycle gadget that utilizes kinetic motion, the energy of a body in motion, to charge electronic devices. It offers a rechargeable, removable battery which can charge a mobile phone, laptop, tablet or other device,” says Deepshay Ray, a biochemistry major at Portland State University. “The goal is to have the battery pack hold up to 48 hours of battery life.”
Team Cycle Charge + first heard about the Cleantech Challenge during their entrepreneurship class at Portland State University. While considering what environmental problem the team wanted to address, they kept coming back to the transportation issues downtown.
“We felt like encouraging the use of alternative transportation methods, particularly bike use, would be a great solution,” says Samantha Lopez, a Portland State University student studying Public Health: Health Services Administration, with a minor in business. “By utilizing our product, those who are commuting on bikes can have their devices fully charged and available on the go for directions, communication, or other essential services available on their device.”
When reflecting on the Cleantech Challenge and their hopes for the future, the team shares a strong sense of responsibility to improve the world around them.
“I feel like it's everyone's responsibility (to protect the planet), especially ours. There's a lot of changes that can be made, and considering what will happen in the future is essential,” remarks Samantha.
Garrin Laird, a transfer student at Portland State University, is excited about participating in the Cleantech Challenge because of how much he is learning. “I hope to learn a lot more about entrepreneurship, I think the skills I gain will be helpful for any future businesses or tasks I may want to do. I’m really interested in figuring out how products are made and how they serve the customer,” he says.