Using Commuters to Power Gadgets

Who would've though those sudden starts and stops would be useful?

Here's a concept that promises to make mass transit even more useful. Designed for installation on buses, these power-generating More+ Bus Handle seem perfect for trains as well.

The handles—like their normal counterparts—are embedded into a supporting steel bar. As they swing from motion created by commuters trying not to fall down, a piezoelectric ceramic component generates electricity from the kinetic energy. The power is directed to a socket at the end of the bar, where other riders can plug in and get some charge.

If such a system is implemented, it would make a great source of emergency power for commuters who need make that important phone call—or need to finish that level to pass the time.

But just how practical is More+ in high-traffic situations, where commuters practically pack into the vehicle like sardines? From the illustrations it's clear that the number of plugs will be limited. In the relatively high-tension environment, where people already compete for space, Make+ could be tinder to a confrontational fire.

More+ Bus Handles generate renewable energy for handheld devices