Nokia has its bicycle-powered mobile phone charger. And now Orange has its 'Power Wellies'; thermoelectric wellington boots that are perfect for summer festivals because they can charge a mobile phone by using heat from your feet.
The prototype footwear, created in collaboration with renewable energy organisation GotWind, uses a sole that converts heat from your feet into an electrical current. It's a phenomenon known as the Seebeck effect. Apparently 12 hours of walking generates an hour of talk time, with hotter feet generating energy more quickly.
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Nokia has announced a bicycle-powered mobile phone charger. Although it's not a new idea – we reported on a Kenyan bike-powered project last summer – it's a first for the manufacturer, which is aiming the device at developing markets where access to electricity can be limited.
A 10-minute ride will produce enough power for around half-an-hour of conversation. The charger uses a dynamo to produce the power, with a handlebar mount holding the phone in place. It's expected to be available later this year.
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