Skip to main content

Phone-osynthesis : Bioo Lite is a pot that uses plants to charge your phone

Like something out of a middle school science fair project, (a ton of) potatoes and apples can be used to charge smartphones. Instead of having to utilize 800 pieces of produce to generate a charge, a Barcelona-based company, Arkyne Technologies, wants to use a single plant.

The company’s product, a pot called the Bioo Lite, uses the energy generated by photosynthesis to charge smartphones. It’s an idea scientists have been researching for several years. If you remember back to science class, photosynthesis is the process by which sunlight is used to turn CO2, and water into oxygen and organic compounds. Bacteria in the pot breaks up the compounds, releasing electrons that travel along nanowires. The resulting electricity powers a typical USB port, where you can plug in your phone or tablet cable.

Arkyne Technologies claims the pot allows up to three charges per day. The plant generates power both day and night, so users can charge their phones anytime. How long will it take for your smartphone to be fully charged? It depends on the phone’s battery capacity, but it should be similar to using your computer to juice up your device, according to the company. However, the output of 3.5 volts and 500 milliamps is actually a little less than many USB ports. Not all plants produce the same amount of electricity, so cacti aren’t recommended. Bioo Lite will only work while the plant is alive, so taking care of the plant is crucial. If you kill your little green friend, you’ll have to replace it with a new one.

The 8.2-by-4.3-by-4.3-inch (21-by-11-by-11 centimeter) pot is available for an early bird special of roughly $112 on Indiegogo. The company already surpassed its goal of raising nearly $17,000 and is estimated to begin shipping as early as December 2016. Like other Indiegogo campaigns, back at your own risk.

Editors' Recommendations

Maria Mora
Maria Mora is a creative, media professional fusing a background of audio production with editorial writing. Technology…
This little black box doubles your camera’s Wi-Fi speed for automatic transfers
CamFi Pro

Most new camera bodies include built-in Wi-Fi, but slow connection speeds mean the feature is limited to sending a few of the best shots or sending everything as two-megapixel versions instead. But startup CamFi is launching a new product that brings Wi-Fi fast enough for automatic transfers at full resolution. The CamFi Pro is a wireless camera controller that uses an 802.11 ac Wi-Fi connection to transfer photos two to three times faster than the built-in feature on most camera bodies.

Most cameras with wireless connection use a 802.11 n, and depending on the size of the photo, sending the image to a computer can take as long as 30 seconds, according to CamFi. By doubling the speed with a faster connection, the CamFi Pro can send images over at a rate of about 10MB/s compared to the 2 MB/s with many built-in connection systems.

Read more
Ditch your bulky commuter bike helmet and ride smarter with the foldable Lid
lid folding bike helmet close up portrait urban green  1

Cycling without a helmet isn’t advisable for obvious reasons. Then again, having to carry around a bulky bike helmet with you all day can make it a tempting option for commuters. That’s where a smart new helmet, currently raising funds on Indiegogo, comes into play. Called Lid, the helmet is able to fold up when you’re not using it -- courtesy of a neat design boasting separate movable parts, a bit like sliding tectonic plates, and some well-placed magnets. The result is a helmet that will comfortably fit into a bag when it is not being used to safeguard our noggins.

"Our research told us that 'helmet hassle' is the No. 1 reason why cyclists opt not to wear a helmet, and also that safety concerns prevent many commuters from cycling altogether," creator Sam Terry told Digital Trends. “We went about changing this and developed an eco-friendly helmet which would bring ‘safety with convenience’, by folding to a size and shape which would slip easily into a backpack, satchel, or handbag. We’ve designed Lid with clean lines and an urban profile, so we think it also looks great too."

Read more
Get your hands on the Nucli smart door lock, and it’ll open with your fingerprint
westinghouse nucli smart lock door

Update: Digital Trends reached out to Westinghouse several times and didn’t hear back until we spoke with Indiegogo. At the end of September, Westinghouse CEO Trey Mosier sent an email to backers (and us), noting that:

"At this point, NUCLI does not yet meet our quality expectations. We will continue to work towards the goal of developing a product that meets our standards and will provide you updates as we have them.”

Read more