The technology to recharge batteries has been around a long time, but people continue to buy expensive non-rechargeable batteries. Well, if you can’t beat em, then join em. Sort of. Designer Sun Woo Park has created a street light that will accept batteries to power it. The concept is simple. There are holes in a canister attached to the base of the light where people can deposit their used batteries. Whatever charge is left on the battery will then be used to power the street light. When the power is fully used, the light will turn off. The goal will be to get people of the community to constantly deposit their used batteries to maintain continuous power for the streetlight. One drawback of this type of public light is that people may start depositing other items into the holes meant for batteries (gum, trash, etc). However, I think this concept of reusing batteries can be applied to other areas such as powering items in homes and offices. Share your thoughts on possible applications in the comments section. (Courtesy of Dvice.com)
on Oct 13th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Good idea, but I agree with you. This wouldn’t work in any of the neighborhoods in my community. There are just too many kids running around that will deposit other stuff into the holes.
I do like the office idea though. What I really wonder about is why they don’t just make these solar powered?
on Oct 13th, 2008 at 8:29 am
They already have solar powered streetlight projects, but I think was more a project in seeing what is possible. I think the use of used batteries to create power has other applications that are better suited to take advantage of this concept.