Corvallis-based Perpetua Power Source Technologies is working on thermal electric generators that, when embedded in clothing, can generate power from body heat.
Corvallis-based Perpetua Power Source Technologies is working on thermal electric generators that, when embedded in clothing, can generate power from body heat.
Wafer-thin thermal electric generators are now producing electricity. The jacket is a prototype developed under a contract with the Department of Homeland Security to power devices its agents might wear.
“Presently, we can’t provide enough power to transmit on an Iphone,” [CEO Nick] Fowler said. “We’d have to cover a fairly broad section of your body to generate enough electricity for an iPhone, but an iPod or MP3 is certainly within the realm of things we can power.”
“Ultimately, we want to get into the consumer business and compete with regular batteries,” Fowler said. “We’re not there yet. We’re still a couple years away from competing with consumer level batteries, but for specialty applications we are always on, always available power is a requirement, we’re very very close.”
Read more at KATU.
{biztweet}human power{/biztweet}
